Phrasal
Verb
|
Meaning
|
Examples
|
act like
(inseparable)
|
behave in a way that's like
_____ Note: This phrasal verb is very informal.
|
What's wrong with Bob? He's
acting like an idiot.
|
act up (no
object)
|
misbehave (for people); not
work properly (for machines)
|
The baby sitter had a
difficult time. The children acted up all evening. "I guess I'd better
take my car to the garage. It's been acting up lately."
|
Add up
|
(make
sense)
|
His evidence just doesn 't
add up.
|
add up (1.
no object)
|
logically fit together Note:
This phrasal verb is often negative
|
His theory is hard to
believe, but his research adds up. "His theory seems, at first, to be
plausible, but the facts in his research don't add up."
|
add up (2.
separable)
|
find the
total.
|
What's the total of those
bills? Could you add them up and see?
|
add up to
(inseparable)
|
to total.
|
The bills add up to $734.96.
That's more than I expected!
|
Ask after
|
(inquire
about)
|
Jim was asking after you.
|
ask out
(separable)
|
ask for a
date.
|
Nancy has a new boy friend.
Joe asked her out last night.
|
back down
(no object)
|
not follow a threat; yield
In an argument
|
Tom was going to call the
police when I told him I'd wrecked his car, but he backed down when I said
I'd pay for the damages. Shella was right, so Paul had to back down.
|
back off
(no object)
|
not follow
a threat
|
Tom was ready to call the
police when I told him I'd wrecked his car, but he backed off when I said I'd
pay for the damages.
|
back up
(1. no object)
|
move backward; move in
reverse
|
You missed the lines in the
parking space. You'll have to back up and try again. "The people waiting
in line are too close to the door. We won't be able to open it unless they
back up."
|
back up
(2. separable)
|
drive a vehicle backwards
(in reverse)
|
You're too close! Back your
car up so I can open the garage door.
|
back up
(3. separable)
|
confirm a story, facts, or
information
|
If you don't believe me,
talk to Dave. He'll back
me up.
|
back up
(4. separable)
|
make a
"protection" copy to use if there are problems with the original
|
When my computer crashed, I
lost many of my files. It's a good thing I backed them up.
|
Bargain
for
|
(take into
acount)
|
We hadn't bargained for
there being so much traffic, and we missed the plane.
|
be off (1) usually used in
the present tense (of an event / an arrangement etc.)
|
to be
cancelled
|
The lead singer of 'The
Rolling Beatles' pop group is ill, so tonight's concert is off. The concert is off.
|
be off (2)
(of food)
|
to have
gone bad
|
Nick decided to have a fried
egg for breakfast, but there was a terrible smell when he cracked the egg.
'This egg is off,' he thought. I can't eat it.' The egg is off.
|
be over
|
to be
finished
|
The storm is over; it has
stopped raining and the sun is shining. The storm is over.
|
be taken aback used in the
passive
|
to be surprised and confused
|
Jeff was taken aback when he
opened the door and discovered an elephant. Jeff was taken aback by the
discovery of an elephant. Jeff was taken aback.
|
Bear out
|
(confirm the
truth)
|
Helen's alibi was borne out
by her sister.
|
beat up
|
to hurt someone badly by
hitting and punching
|
Two men beat Fred up and
left him lying unconscious on the pavement. They beat up Fred. They beat Fred
up. They beat him up.
|
beg off
(no object)
|
decline an invitation; ask
to be excused from doing something
|
At first Lily said she would
be at the party. Later she
begged off.
|
blow up
(1)
|
to destroy (something or
someone) by explosion; to explode
|
Mr Trent hated his house, so
he blew it up with dynamite and built a new one instead. Mr Trent blew up his
house. Mr Trent blew his house up. Mr Trent blew it up. The house blew up.
|
blow up
(1. separable)
|
inflate
|
We needs lots of balloons
for the party. Will you blow them up?
|
blow up
(2)
|
a balloon/a tyre /a football
etc. to fill with air; to inflate
|
Uncle Joe blew up the
balloons for the Christmas party. Uncle Joe blew up the balloons. Uncle Joe
blew the balloons up. Uncle Joe blew them up.
|
blow up
(2. separable)
|
explode;
destroy by exploding
|
A: "That old building
really came down quickly!" B: "That's because the construction
company used dynamite to blow it up."
|
blow up
(3. no object)
|
suddenly
become very angry
|
Whe I told Jerry that I'd
had an accident with his car, he blew up.
|
bone up on
(inseparable)
|
review / study thoroughly
for a short time
|
If you're going to travel to
Peru, you'd better bone up on your Spanish.
|
break down
(1) (of machinery)
|
to stop
working.
|
Tom's car broke down on the
way to the airport, and he had to get a taxi. I His car broke down.
|
break down
(1. separable)
|
separate something into
component parts
|
We spent a lot of money at
the supermarket. When we broke the total cost down, we spent more on cleaning
supplies than food.
|
break down
(2)
|
to lose control emotionally
or mentally.
|
Alec broke down and cried
when his mother died. I Alec broke down. David broke down and wept when he
heard the news.
|
break down
(2. no object)
|
stop
working / functioning
|
Sharon will be late for work
today. Her car broke down on the freeway.
|
break in (1. often no
object; with an object, break into--inseparable)
|
enter by using force (and
breaking a lock, window, etc.)
|
Jane's apartment was
burglarized last night. Someone broke in while Jane was at the movies. /
"Somebody broke into Jane's apartment while she was at the movies.
|
break in
(2. separable)
|
wear something new until
it's / they're comfortable
|
These are nice shoes, but
they're too stiff. I hope it doesn't take too long to break them in.
|
break in
(3. separable)
|
train; get someone /
something accustomed to a new routine
|
I hope I can learn my new
job quickly. The manager hasn't scheduled much time for breaking me in.
|
break into a building / a
bank / a house etc.
|
to enter somewhere (e.g. a
house) illegally, especially by force.
|
Last night a burglar broke
into my house and stole my television set. A burglar broke into my house. A
burglar broke into it.
|
break off talks /
negotiations / an engagement / a relationship / an agreement etc.
|
to end; to interrupt; to
discontinue, stop talking
|
Peace talks between the
U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. have broken off after three days of serious
disagreement. Peace talks between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. have broken
off. The U.S.A. has broken off peace talks with the U.S.S.R. They have broken
off peace t
|
break out (of unpleasant
things e.g. wars, epidemics, fires, violence etc.)
|
to start,
usually suddenly
|
The Second World War broke
out on 3 September, 1939. In 1939 World War Two broke out. World War Two
broke out in 1939. World War Two broke out on 3 September, 1939.
|
Break out in spots / a rash
/ a cold sweat ('to show signs of great fear)
|
to become covered by
(something).
|
Cyril broke out in spots
this morning. He broke out in spots. He broke out in them.
|
break up
(1. no object)
|
Hi! My name’s Bob. I’m 16 years old and I live in
London. I’m tall and slim. I’ve got blond hair and blue eyes. These are my
best friends, Tony and Simon.
Tony is 17 years old and he is a football player. He always
watches football matches on TV.
Simon is 16 years old. He’s short and plump, but very
funny. He likes listening to music and play computer games.
