Example: Increased pollution may account

for climate change.

Phrasal Verbs 2. ADHERE TO
Meaning: Obey
 bring on – to cause something to happen Type: Inseparable
o He brought on his own downfall. Example: You must adhere to the terms of
 call off – to cancel the contract.
o The party was called off when the DJ 3. ALLUDE TO
canceled.
 cheer up – to try to make someone happier
Meaning: Mention in an indirect way
o This big tub of ice cream Type: Inseparable
should cheer you up! Example: She kept alluding to our
 come forward – to volunteer information agreement, but she didn’t want to reveal it.
about something 4. BRING ON
o Could anyone with information about
this crime please come forward. Meaning: To cause something bad to
 cut off – to interrupt something happen, especially illness
o Hey, that driver just cut me off! Type: Separable
 drop by – to visit for a short period of time Example: His heart condition was brought
o I was in the neighborhood so I
decided to drop by.
on by his diet.
 fall apart – to break into pieces, either 5. BRING UP
emotionally or physically Meaning: To start discussing a subject
o She fell apart when she was served Type: Separable
with divorce papers. Example: She brought the matter up very
 fill in – to give details about something
o Can you fill me in about the
late so they didn’t have time to discuss it
conference yesterday? properly.
 get back at – to get revenge on someone 6. COME ABOUT
o She has wanted to get back at him for Meaning: To happen, especially by chance
as long as I can remember.
Type: Inseparable
 give away – to hand something out for free
o Don’t just give away your talents! Example: Increased unemployment
 go out with – to go on a date with someone has come about through automated
o He has been wanting to go out production.
with her for ages. 7. CUT BACK
 hang out – to casually spend time with
someone
Meaning: To reduce
o Do you want to hang out at the mall Type: Inseparable
after school? Example: They are cutting back expenses.
 look out – to watch out for something 8. DO WITHOUT
o Hey, look out for that tennis ball!
Meaning: To succeed in living or working
 take out – to remove something, or to take
someone on a date without
o The children took out their notebooks. Type: Inseparable
 turn up – when something that was lost is Example: We can do without help from
unexpectedly found you.
o I’m sure my lost earring will turn
up somewhere in the house.
9. EMBARK ON
 work out – to exercise Meaning: To start a new project or activity,
o I try to work out four times a week, usually one that will be difficult or take time
but I feel accomplished if I do it three Type: Inseparable
times. Example: After graduating from university,
she embarked on a career in banking.
1. ACCOUNT FOR
10. FOLLOW THROUGH
Meaning: To explain the reason for
Meaning: To continue doing something
Type: Inseparable
until it has been completed
Type: Inseparable
Example: You will need to follow Example: What do you make of the
through with some reading if you want to teacher’s decision to shorten this course?
master the subject. 19. MAP OUT
11. FROWN UPON Meaning: To plan in detail how something
Meaning: To not approve of something will happen
Type: Inseparable Type: Separable
Example: Failure to attend classes Example: Her career was mapped out for
is frowned upon. her when she decided to take that job.
12. GET ACROSS 20. MEET UP
Meaning: To make people understand Meaning: To come together with someone
something Type: Inseparable
Type: Separable Example: Let’s meet up and discuss how
Example: The teacher managed to get we are going to go about this project.
across how important it was to attend 21. NARROW DOWN
lectures. Meaning: To reduce the number of
13. GET AROUND possibilities
Meaning: To be heard by a lot of people Type: Separable
Type: Inseparable Example: The detectives narrowed
Example: News of his promotion got down the list of suspects to just two.
around very fast. 22. PUT FORWARD
14. GET AT Meaning: To suggest an idea, opinion so
Meaning: To try to suggest something that it can be discussed
without saying it directly Type: Separable
Type: Inseparable Example: The proposals were put
Example: What are you getting at? Was forward last week, but the committee didn’t
my presentation too long? have time to discuss them.
15. GET BACK 23. PUT OFF
Meaning: To start doing something again Meaning: To delay doing something
after not doing it for a period of time. especially when you don’t want to do it
Type: Inseparable. Type: Separable
Example: Let’s get back to discussing how Example: Are you putting off writing that
this happened. essay because you can’t concentrate right
16. LOOK FORWARD TO now?
Meaning: To feel happy about something 24. RESORT TO
that is going to happen Meaning: To do something unpleasant in
Type: Inseparable order to solve a problem
Example: I’m looking forward to meeting Type: Inseparable
you later. Example: We must resort to legal action of
17. LOOK INTO they don’t offer compensation.
Meaning: To try to discover facts about 25. RULE OUT
something Meaning: To stop considering something
Type: Inseparable as a possibility
Example: After several customers Type: Separable
complained about late deliveries, they Example: The CEO said that yearly
decided to look into the matter. bonuses can be ruled out in light of the
18. MAKE OF financial crisis.
Meaning: To understand someone or 26. RUN BY
something in a certain way Meaning: To tell someone your ideas so
Type: Inseparable they can give you their opinion
Type: Separable
Example: I have a few ideas for
tomorrow’s meeting. Can
I run them byyou?
27. TALK OUT OF
Meaning: To persuade someone not to do
something
Type: Separable
Example: Her parents talked her out
of living in a rented flat.
28. THINK OVER
Meaning: To consider a problem carefully
Type: Separable
Example: You should think it over before
handing in your resignation.
29. TURN OUT
Meaning: To develop in a particular way
Type: Inseparable
Example: The presentation turned
out well, considering how little you
prepared for it.
30. VERGE ON
Meaning: To almost be in a particular state
Type: Inseparable
Example: His speech was so good, it
was verging on genius.