Phrasal verbs

PPH HRRAASSAALL VVEERRBBSS 11

FCE

Account for [Account for something].- explain (money, difference, actions) When you account for something, you explain or give a reason for it.



How will you account for the money you spent?

Act out [Act something out].- 1 perform (script, story) When you act something out, you perform it or make it into a play.



The script itself is well written and well acted out by the cast.

Add up [Add something up].- calculate (bill, expenses, figures, numbers) When you add something up, you calculate the total.



You made a mistake while you were adding these numbers up.

Answer back.- When you answer back, you reply rudely.

 Don't answer back to your mum!

Apply for [Answer for something].- (job, permit, permission, grant, scholarship, loan) When you apply for something, you fill in a form or write a formal letter asking for it. 

No credit? No problem! Apply for your new Visa Card and MasterCard Today!

Ask for [Ask for something] .- (help, receipt, trouble) When you ask for something, you request it.



They have written to the actress asking for her help in raising money for Nicaraguan children.

Ask out [Ask somebody out].- When you ask somebody out, you ask somebody to go to the theatre, a restaurant, etc, with you.



Take out

Jerry's too scared to ask her out. Have you asked her out yet?

Back up [Back somebody/something up].- When you back somebody up, you support them.



Four witnesses backed him up.

Be back.- When you are back, you have returned.



Come back

What time will you be back?

Be off.- 1 When you are off, you leave a place.

Go away



She's off to Barbados this year.

2 When something is off, it's disconnected or it's not working.



The power was off for about 3 hours.

3 When an event is off, it has been cancelled.



Due to the many last minute cancellations tonight's party is off.

Blow down [blow something down].- (trees, gates, buildings) If the wind blows something down, it makes it fall to the ground by blowing on it.



Several trees were blown down in the night.

Blow out [Blow out, blow something out].- (match, candle, flame, lamp) When something blows out or you blow it out, it's extinguished.



Put something out

I blew out the candles and we ate cake.

Blow up [Blow up, blow something up].- 1 When something blows up, it explodes.



Terrorists intended to blow up the parliament when the president was speaking there, but police foiled the plans.

1

PPH HRRAASSAALL VVEERRBBSS 11

FCE

Break down.- 1 (car, system, machine, talks, negotiations, marriage, argument, plan) When something breaks down, it stops working because it has a serious problem.



Sorry I'm late. The car broke down on the way here.

2 When a person breaks down, they lose control and start crying.



Crack up

When he told her he didn't love her anymore, she broke down.

Break in [Break in, break into something].- (building, house, grounds, computer, system) When you break in or break into a place or system, you enter it using force or by breaking the law.



Break out

An unemployed programmer from Britain has been accused of breaking into a large number of US military computers.

Break off [Break something off].- (agreement, engagement, relations, relationship, alliance) When you break something off, you put an end to it because of a problem.



I was extremely stunned when Mac and Brumby broke off their engagement.

Break out.- 1 (riots, violence, row, fire, epidemic, disease, war, rash, spots, sweat, tears, argument) When something breaks out, it begins suddenly or violently.



A terrible war has broken out in the Middle East.

2 When you break out, you escape.



Break in

The two criminals broke out of prison yesterday.

Break up 1 [Break something up].- (fight,quarrel, party, crowd, marriage, relationship, couple, alliance, school, meeting) When you break something up or something breaks up, it stops.



He broke up with her after three years.

2 If something breaks up, or if you break it up, it breaks into smaller pieces.



The tides and currents have broken the ship up.

Bring about [Bring something about].- Cause (reform, changes) When you bring something about, you make something happen.



This bill, together with that concerning private pensions, will bring about the reform of the pension system in Romania.

Bring back [Bring something back].- (memories) When something brings something else back, it makes you think about something that happened a long time ago.



Looking at the photos brought back a lot of memories of my visit to the place.

Bring up [Bring somebody up].- When you bring somebody up, you look after a child until it has grown up.



It isn't easy to bring up children nowadays.

Bring up [Bring something up].- (issue, matter, point, subject) When you bring something up, you mention a subject or topic.



Come up, drag up

She brought up the topic of how badly paid her job is.

Build up [Build something up].- (muscles, strength, stamina, reputation, sales, speed, collection, profits) When you build something up, you increase the amount of something.

 

A little practice will soon build up your confidence.

It is important to have a daily exercise routine to build up your muscles, weakened by a long period of illness.

Call back [Call back, call somebody back].- When you call back or call somebody back, you return a phone call or call again later.



Phone back, ring back

I'll call you back as soon as I hear anything.

2

PPH HRRAASSAALL VVEERRBBSS 11

FCE

Call off [Call something off].- cancel When you call something off, you cancel an event.



Be off, put off

The concert was called off because of rain.

Calm down [Calm down, calm somebody down].- When you calm down, you become more relaxed.



He was very upset about it, but he calmed down eventually.

Carry on.- Continue When you carry on, or carry on doing something, you continue doing something. on, keep on

 

Go

He carried on as if nothing had happened.

If things carry on the way they are, you'll lose your job.

Carry out [Carry something out].- Do (survey, investigation, research, review, plan, threat) When you carry something out, you do a task.



The government is going to carry out a survey on the nation's health.

Catch on.- (idea, fashion, concept) When something catches on, it becomes popular.



The idea eventually caught on and became fashionable by the 1980s.

Cater for.- (people, tastes, needs) Provide what is wanted or needed by someone or something.



This shop caters for all musical tastes.

Check in [Check in, check something in].- When you check in, you arrive at a hotel or airport and report your arrival at reception or check-in desk.



We checked into the hotel a little after midnight.

Check out.- When you check out, you pay and leave.



After breakfast I checked out of the hotel.

Check out [Check something out].- When you check something out, you check that something is correct or it's what you want.



You've got to check the facts out before you start torturing yourself.

Cheer up [Cheer up, cheer somebody up, cheer something up].- When you cheer up, you try to feel happier.



I got you this. I thought it might cheer you up.

Clear up [Clear up, clear something up].- 1 (kitchen, mess) When you clear up, or clear something up, you tidy & clean or remove dirt and clean.



Clean up

I cleared up the mess from the kids in the back garden.

2 (doubt, problem, disagreement, misunderstanding, confusion, issue, crime, mystery) When you

clear something up, you find an answer or an explanation for something or settle it.



3 (weather) When bad weather clears up, it improves.



Sort out

I think this misunderstanding will be cleared up soon.

Brighten up

The weather is horrible at the moment. I hope it clears up later.

Close down [Close something down].- (factory, plant, business, company, shop, production, operations) When you close something down, you close it permanently.

3

Shut down