Meaning Example

Brian asked Judy out to

ask someone out invite on a date
dinner and a movie.

ask many people the same I asked around but nobody

ask around
question has seen my wallet.

Your purchases add up to

add up to something equal
$205.32.

You'll have to back up your

back something up reverse
car so that I can get out.

My wife backed me up over

back someone up support
my decision to quit my job.

The racing car blew up after

blow up explode
it crashed into the fence.

We have to blow 50 balloons

blow something up add air
up for the party.

Our car broke down at the

stop functioning (vehicle,
break down side of the highway in the
machine)
snowstorm.

The woman broke down

break down get upset when the police told her that
her son had died.

Our teacher broke the final

break something down divide into smaller parts project down into three
separate parts.

Somebody broke in last night

break in force entry to a building
and stole our stereo.

The firemen had to break

break into something enter forcibly into the room to rescue the
children.

wear something a few times

I need to break these shoes
break something in so that it doesn't look/feel
in before we run next week.
new

break in interrupt The TV station broke in to

 report the news of the
president's death.

My boyfriend and I broke up

break up end a relationship
before I moved to America.

The kids just broke up as

break up start laughing (informal) soon as the clown started
talking.

The prisoners broke out of

break out escape jail when the guards weren't
looking.

I broke out in a rash after our

break out in something develop a skin condition
camping trip.

This sad music is bringing

bring someone down make unhappy
me down.

My grandparents brought me
bring someone up raise a child
up after my parents died.

My mother walks out of the

bring something up start talking about a subject room when my father brings
up sports.

He drank so much that he

bring something up vomit brought his dinner up in the
toilet.

We called around but we

phone many different
call around weren't able to find the car
places/people
part we needed.

I called the company back

call someone back return a phone call but the offices were closed
for the weekend.

Jason called the wedding off

call something off cancel because he wasn't in love
with his fiancé.

The professor called on me

call on someone ask for an answer or opinion
for question 1.

call on someone visit someone We called on you last night

 but you weren't home.

Give me your phone number

call someone up phone and I will call you up when
we are in town.

You are still mad. You need

calm down relax after being angry to calm down before you
drive the car.

not care for

not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.
someone/something

You'll have to run faster than

get to the same point as
catch up that if you want to catch up
someone else
with Marty.

arrive and register at a hotel We will get the hotel keys

check in
or airport when we check in.

You have to check out of the

check out leave a hotel
hotel before 11:00 AM.

check The company checks out all

look at carefully, investigate
someone/something out new employees.

check out Check out the crazy hair on

look at (informal)
someone/something that guy!

She cheered up when she

cheer up become happier
heard the good news.

I brought you some flowers to

cheer someone up make happier
cheer you up.

If everyone chips in we can

chip in help get the kitchen painted by
noon.

Please clean up your

clean something up tidy, clean bedroom before you go
outside.

I came across these old

come across something find unexpectedly photos when I was tidying the
closet.
 The top and bottom come
come apart separate apart if you pull hard
enough.

come down with My nephew came down with

become sick
something chicken pox this weekend.

The woman came forward

volunteer for a task or to give
come forward with her husband's finger
evidence
prints.

The art of origami comes

come from somewhere originate in
from Asia.

count on I am counting on you to

rely on
someone/something make dinner while I am out.

Please cross out your old

cross something out draw a line through address and write your new
one.

My doctor wants me to cut

cut back on something consume less back on sweets and fatty
foods.

We had to cut the old tree in

make something fall to the
cut something down our yard down after the
ground
storm.

Your father cut in while I

cut in interrupt
was dancing with your uncle.

pull in too closely in front of The bus driver got angry

cut in
another vehicle when that car cut in.

The air conditioner cuts in

start operating (of an engine
cut in when the temperature gets to
or electrical device)
22°C.

The doctors cut off his leg

cut something off remove with something sharp because it was severely
injured.

The phone company cut off

cut something off stop providing our phone because we didn't
pay the bill.
 My grandparents cut my
cut someone off take out of a will
father off when he remarried.

remove part of something

I cut this ad out of the
cut something out (usually with scissors and
newspaper.
paper)

He's lucky to be alive. His

do someone/something beat up, ransack (Br.E.,
shop was done over by a
over informal)
street gang.

My teacher wants me to do
do something over do again (N.Amer.) my essay over because she
doesn't like my topic.

It's time to do away with all

do away with something discard
of these old tax records.

Do your coat up before you

do something up fasten, close
go outside. It's snowing!

It's a fancy restaurant so we

dress up wear nice clothing
have to dress up.

Andrea dropped back to

move back in a
drop back third place when she fell off
position/group
her bike.

I might drop in/by/over for

drop in/by/over come without an appointment
tea some time this week.

take someone/something
drop I have to drop my sister off at
somewhere and leave them/it
someone/something off work before I come over.
there

I dropped out of Science

drop out quit a class, school etc
because it was too difficult.

I don't feel like cooking

eat out eat at a restaurant
tonight. Let's eat out.

We ended up renting a movie

end up eventually reach/do/decide instead of going to the
theatre.

My new dress fell apart in

fall apart break into pieces
the washing machine.
 The picture that you hung up
fall down fall to the ground last night fell down this
morning.

The money must have fallen

fall out separate from an interior
out of my pocket.

(of hair, teeth) become loose His hair started to fall out
fall out
and unattached when he was only 35.

I need to figure out how to fit

figure something out understand, find the answer the piano and the bookshelf in
this room.

Please fill in the form with

to write information in blanks
fill something in your name, address, and
(Br.E.)
phone number.

to write information in blanks The form must be filled out

fill something out
(N.Amer.) in capital letters.

I always fill the water jug up

fill something up fill to the top
when it is empty.

We don't know where he

find out discover
lives. How can we find out?

We tried to keep the time of

find something out discover the party a secret, but
Samantha found it out.

I tried to get my point

get something communicate, make
across/over to the judge but
across/over understandable
she wouldn't listen.

I was surprised how well my

get along/on like each other new girlfriend and my sister
got along/on.

My grandfather can get

get around have mobility around fine in his new
wheelchair.

We worked so hard this year

get away go on a vacation that we had to get away for a
week.
get away with do without being noticed or Jason always gets away with
something punished cheating in his maths tests.

We got back from our

get back return
vacation last week.

Liz finally got her Science

receive something you had
get something back notes back from my room-
before
mate.

My sister got back at me for

get back at someone retaliate, take revenge stealing her shoes. She stole
my favourite hat.

become interested in I finally got back into my

get back into something
something again novel and finished it.

We're going to freeze out

get on something step onto a vehicle here if you don't let us get on
the bus.

recover from an illness, loss, I just got over the flu and
get over something
difficulty now my sister has it.

The company will have to

get over something overcome a problem close if it can't get over the
new regulations.

finally find time to do I don't know when I am going

get round to something (N.Amer.: get around to to get round to writing the
something) thank you cards.

meet (usually for social Let's get together for a BBQ

get together
reasons) this weekend.

I got up early today to study

get up get out of bed
for my exam.

You should get up and give

get up stand
the elderly man your seat.

reveal hidden information His wife gave him away to

give someone away
about someone the police.

My father gave me away at

give someone away take the bride to the altar
my wedding.
 My little sister gave the
give something away ruin a secret surprise party away by
accident.

give something to someone The library was giving away

give something away
for free old books on Friday.

I have to give these skates

give something back return a borrowed item back to Franz before his
hockey game.

My boyfriend didn't want to

reluctantly stop fighting or
give in go to the ballet, but he finally
arguing
gave in.

They were giving out free

give to many people (usually
give something out perfume samples at the
at no cost)
department store.

I am giving up smoking as of
give something up quit a habit
January 1st.

My maths homework was too

give up stop trying
difficult so I gave up.

My brother tried to go after

go after someone follow someone
the thief in his car.

I went after my dream and

go after something try to achieve something
now I am a published writer.

We are going against the best

go against someone compete, oppose soccer team in the city
tonight.

Please go ahead and eat

go ahead start, proceed
before the food gets cold.

I have to go back home and

go back return to a place
get my lunch.

leave home to go on a social We're going out for dinner

go out
event tonight.

Jesse has been going out

go out with someone date with Luke since they met last
winter.
 Please go over your answers
go over something review
before you submit your test.

I haven't seen Tina for a long

go over visit someone nearby time. I think I'll go over for
an hour or two.

When I was young, we went

go without something suffer lack or deprivation
without winter boots.

My best friend and I grew

grow apart stop being friends over time apart after she changed
schools.

My roses grew back this

grow back regrow
summer.

When Jack grows up he

grow up become an adult
wants to be a fireman.

Elizabeth needs a new pair of

grow out of something get too big for shoes because she has grown
out of her old ones.

This bike is too big for him

grow into something grow big enough to fit now, but he should grow into
it by next year.

I handed my old comic

give something used to
hand something down books down to my little
someone else
cousin.

I have to hand in my essay

hand something in submit
by Friday.

to distribute to a group of We will hand out the

hand something out
people invitations at the door.

The police asked the man to

hand something over give (usually unwillingly) hand over his wallet and his
weapons.

stay positive (N.Amer., Hang in there. I'm sure you'll

hang in
informal) find a job very soon.

Hang on while I grab my

hang on wait a short time (informal)
coat and shoes!
 Instead of going to the party
spend time relaxing
hang out we are just going to hang out
(informal)
at my place.

He didn't say goodbye before

hang up end a phone call
he hung up.

I had to hold my dog back

hold someone/something
prevent from doing/going because there was a cat in the
back
park.

Jamie held back his tears at

hold something back hide an emotion
his grandfather's funeral.

Please hold on while I

hold on wait a short time transfer you to the Sales
Department.

hold onto hold firmly using your hands Hold onto your hat because
someone/something or arms it's very windy outside.

hold A man in a black mask held

rob
someone/somethingup the bank up this morning.

keep on doing Keep on stirring until the

continue doing
something liquid comes to a boil.

We kept our relationship

keep something from
not tell from our parents for two
someone
years.

keep Try to keep the wet dog out

stop from entering
someone/something out of the living room.

If you keep those results up

keep something up continue at the same rate you will get into a great
college.

fail to support or help, I need you to be on time.

let someone down
disappoint Don't let me down this time.

Can you let the cat in before

let someone in allow to enter
you go to school?

look after I have to look after my sick

take care of
someone/something grandmother.
 Ever since we stole that
think less of, consider
look down on someone chocolate bar your dad has
inferior
looked down on me.

look for I'm looking for a red dress

try to find
someone/something for the wedding.

look forward to I'm looking forward to the

be excited about the future
something Christmas break.

We are going to look into the

look into something investigate
price of snowboards today.

be careful, vigilant, and take Look out! That car's going to

look out
notice hit you!

look out for Don't forget to look out for

be especially vigilant for
someone/something snakes on the hiking trail.

Can you look over my essay

look something over check, examine
for spelling mistakes?

search and find information

We can look her phone
look something up in a reference book or
number up on the Internet.
database

My little sister has always

look up to someone have a lot of respect for
looked up to me.

Josie made up a story about

make something up invent, lie about something
about why we were late.

We were angry last night, but

make up forgive each other
we made up at breakfast.

My sisters made me up for

make someone up apply cosmetics to
my graduation party.

I mixed up the twins' names

mix something up confuse two or more things
again!

His uncle passed away last

pass away die
night after a long illness.

It was so hot in the church

pass out faint that an elderly lady passed
out.
 give the same thing to many The professor passed the
pass something out
people textbooks out before class.

decline (usually something I passed up the job because I

pass something up
good) am afraid of change.

Thanks for buying my ticket.

pay someone back return owed money
I'll pay you back on Friday.

be punished for doing That bully will pay for being

pay for something
something bad mean to my little brother.

I picked out three sweaters

pick something out choose
for you to try on.

point I'll point my boyfriend out

indicate with your finger
someone/something out when he runs by.

put what you are holding on a You can put the groceries
put something down
surface or floor down on the kitchen counter.

The students put the

insult, make someone feel substitute teacher down
put someone down
stupid because his pants were too
short.

We are putting off our trip

put something off postpone until January because of the
hurricane.

The neighbours put the fire

put something out extinguish out before the firemen
arrived.

I have to put the crib

put something together assemble together before the baby
arrives.

I don't think I can put up

put up with
tolerate with three small children in
someone/something
the car.

put clothing/accessories on Don't forget to put on your

put something on
your body new earrings for the party.

run into I ran into an old school-

meet unexpectedly
someone/something friend at the mall.
run over drive a vehicle over a person I accidentally ran over your
someone/something or thing bicycle in the driveway.

Let's run over/through these

run over/through
rehearse, review lines one more time before
something
the show.

The child ran away from

run away leave unexpectedly, escape home and has been missing
for three days.

We ran out of shampoo so I

run out have none left had to wash my hair with
soap.

My letter got sent back to me

send something back return (usually by mail) because I used the wrong
stamp.

Our boss set a meeting up

set something up arrange, organize with the president of the
company.

The police set up the car thief

set someone up trick, trap
by using a hidden camera.

I want to shop around a little

shop around compare prices before I decide on these
boots.

act extra special for people He always shows off on his

show off
watching (usually boastfully) skateboard

You should sleep over

stay somewhere for the night
sleep over tonight if the weather is too
(informal)
bad to drive home.

We need to sort the bills out

sort something out organize, resolve a problem
before the first of the month.

continue doing something,

You will lose weight if you
stick to something limit yourself to one
stick to the diet.
particular thing

The light's too bright. Could

switch something off stop the energy flow, turn off
you switch it off.
 We heard the news as soon as
switch something on start the energy flow, turn on
we switched on the car radio.

I take after my mother. We

take after someone resemble a family member
are both impatient.

He took the car brakes apart

take something apart purposely break into pieces
and found the problem.

I have to take our new TV

take something back return an item
back because it doesn't work.

My plane takes off in five

take off start to fly
minutes.

remove something (usually Take off your socks and

take something off
clothing) shoes and come in the lake!

Can you take the garbage out

take something out remove from a place or thing
to the street for me?

pay for someone to go My grandparents took us out

take someone out
somewhere with you for dinner and a movie.

I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
tear something up rip into pieces letters and gave them back to
him.

When I think back on my

remember (often + to,
think back youth, I wish I had studied
sometimes + on)
harder.

I'll have to think this job

think something over consider offer over before I make my
final decision.

We threw our old furniture

throw something away dispose of away when we won the
lottery.

decrease the volume or Please turn the TV down

turn something down
strength (heat, light etc) while the guests are here.

I turned the job down

turn something down refuse
because I don't want to move.

turn something off stop the energy flow, switch Your mother wants you to
 turn the TV off and come for
off
dinner.

It's too dark in here. Let's

turn something on start the energy, switch on
turn some lights on.

increase the volume or Can you turn the music up?

turn something up
strength (heat, light etc) This is my favourite song.

Our cat turned up after we

turn up appear suddenly put posters up all over the
neighbourhood.

I'm going to try these jeans

try something on sample clothing on, but I don't think they will
fit.

I am going to try this new

try something out test
brand of detergent out.

The kids used all of the

use something up finish the supply toothpaste up so we need to
buy some more.

We have to wake up early for

wake up stop sleeping
work on Monday.

warm You can warm your feet up

increase the temperature
someone/something up in front of the fireplace.

I always warm up by doing

warm up prepare body for exercise
sit-ups before I go for a run.

Most of my make-up wore

wear off fade away
off before I got to the party.

I work out at the gym three

work out exercise
times a week.

work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.

We have to work out the

work something out make a calculation total cost before we buy the
house.
Yesterday I went out for dinner with my boyfriend for Valentine’s day.
I feel my mom is upset because when I called her, she hung up on me quickly.