Well, hey there!
I hope you enjoyed my lesson about phrasal verbs! Each
phrasal verb, definition and example sentence has been
included here; there's space to write your own sentence
too. It's always important to practise *using* the
language I teach you in my lessons!
1 bring up
to start discussing something
Let’s bring this up at our next team meeting.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
2 get across
to make someone understand something
Am I getting the message across clearly?
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
3 jump in
to interrupt
Do you mind if I jump in here?
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
4 butt in
to join a conversation or activity without being asked or invited to
I was speaking with Sue, then Jim butted in to brag about his new promotion!
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
5 blurt out
to say something without thinking about the effect it will have or say
something you’re not supposed to say
I’m so sorry! I just blurted it out.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
Emma x
6 get through to
When you are trying to call someone and they don’t answer.
I’m trying to get through to Jess but there’s no answer.
to make someone understand what you’re trying to say
I’m trying to get the message through to Paul but he’s not listening.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
to discuss a problem or plan and discuss solutions
I know you’re upset; let’s talk it over tonight when you get home.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
talk over (someone)
to speak when someone else is speaking, to intentionally interrupt them
I don’t mean to talk over you, but we have already decided what to do.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
8 talk (someone) around
to convince or persuade someone to agree
I didn’t want to go, but he talked me around.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
9 shut down
Informally used in conversations when your idea or suggestion gets rejected.
It was kind of awkward; she just shut him down mid-sentence!
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
10 back (someone) up
to give support by telling other people you agree with something they
said/did
Thanks for backing me up during the meeting.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
7 talk (something) over
11 look back on (something)
to think about the past
I try to look back on the mistakes I made in the past and learn from them.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
to take care of someone
Who’s going to look after you while your dog is away?
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
13 look down on (someone)
to have a low opinion of somebody or think you are better than them
It’s really common for people who value university education to look down on
those who don’t have a degree.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
14 look for (something)
to try to find something
I’m looking for my keys!
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
15 look forward to (something)
to wait for something and feel excited or pleased
I’m looking forward to summer!
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
16 look around
to visit a place and see what’s there
Before I book the venue I’d like to come and look around, if that’s okay?
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
12 look after (someone)
17 look out
a common exclamation to tell someone to be careful
Look out! You’re about to the knock that glass off the bench!
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
to take care of someone and make sure they are okay
My nephews are always looking out for each other at school.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
19 look (something) up
to try and find out some information in a book or on the internet
If you don’t know a word, look it up in the dictionary!
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
20 look up to (someone)
to respect someone
I really look up to my boss.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
21 look into (something)
to investigate something
I’ll look into it and tell you my decision tomorrow.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
22 look over (something)
to examine something (usually quickly)
I’ll look over the report tonight and let you know if I want to add anything.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
23 look through (something)
to examine something (usually quickly)
I look through recipe books every night to get inspiration for dinner!
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
18 look out for (someone)
24 come down with (something)
starting to show the signs of an illness
They both came down with a terrible cold.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
to become healthier after having an illness (usually a cold, flu, bug)
She came down with a cold, but luckily she was able to fight it off quickly.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
26 pass away
a polite and respectful way to say someone died
Our neighbour passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
27 dip into (something)
to spend your money, usually money you are saving for a particular purpose
They have dipped into their savings to pay for their renovation.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
28 get by
to manage to live or do a task using just the money /knowledge that you have
at that time and nothing else.
Even though Tim has been without work for 6 months, they have been getting by.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
29 go without
to live without the things that you need or would like to have.
They went without power for five days.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
25 fight off (something)
to be mentioned or talked about in conversation
If anything important comes up during the meeting, I'll tell you about it later.
to approach or go towards someone, especially if they are on a higher level
than you are
Come up to my apartment it's on the fourth floor.
if something comes up, it becomes available (E.g. a job or opportunity)
A new opportunity has come up and we need to take it.
An appointment time has just come up on Wednesday, would you like to book in?
referring to a problem or an issue that must be dealt with immediately
Something has just come up, so I need to cancel my appointment.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
31 come in
to enter a building or a room
The TV was so loud, he didn't notice me come in.
can also mean 'arrive'
The train comes in at 3 o'clock.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
32 come out
something that was previously unknown, becomes known
After 10 years, the truth finally came out.
to appear
After a big thunderstorm, the sun always comes out from behind the clouds.
the release of a product
The new album will come out in June.
to go somewhere with someone, for a social event
Do you want to come out with us on Friday?
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
30 come up
hurry up
Come on! We're going to be late!
to encourage or support someone
Come on, you can do it!
when you don't believe something someone said
Oh come on! That's not true!
to start working
The hot water isn't coming on. Are you sure it's working?
when a sickness is starting to develop
I think I have got a cold coming on
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
34 come down
when something moves in a downwards direction
There was a big storm last night and many of the trees came down.
when something reduces
After Christmas, the price of the sofa will probably come down.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
35 come down on
to punish someone because they didn't perform as expected
My boss came down on me really hard because I didn't finish the report in time.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
36 come over
to describe movement from one place to another
Why don't you come over to my house for dinner?
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
33 come on
37 come back
when somebody or something returns to a place or to an original state
I'll come back in half an hour to get you.
I thought I got rid of my cold, but I think it's coming back.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
to update or improve your skills in some way
I'm brushing up on my Italian because I have a business trip in July
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
39 turn down
to say no to something or refuse it
They offered me tickets to the conference, but I had to turn them down because
it's my son's birthday.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
40 pick up
to lift or move something or someone
Can you pick up those papers on the floor?
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
41 get up
to rise after sleeping or sitting down for period of time
I have to get up and go to my meeting
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
42 fill up
to make something full (same meaning as 'full')
Fill up your glass with water.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
38 brush up on
43 climb up/go up
to increase or to reach a higher level
I climbed up the stairs to get to the balcony and watch the sunset.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
provide extra support or increase the support that you need
She backed up her stories with photographic evidence
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
45 grow up
to increase in size or maturity
Our kids grow up too quickly.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
46 cheer up
to improve your mood
Cheer up. The weather is going to be better
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
47 dress up
to improve the quality of your clothes
Since it's the graduation ceremony, you will need to dress up.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
48 cook up
make some food
I'm going to cook up some breakfast before we leave.
to get an idea or plan ready
Sarah's cooking up some exciting plans for Allan's birthday on Sunday. I can't
wait!
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
44 back up
49 whip up
to cook something really quickly
I'm just going to whip up a sandwich during my break.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
to think of a new idea, be creative with your thoughts
I dreamed up an entire new plan for the party
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
51 set up
to organise or plan something
I set up my studio every time I need to film a lesson.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
52 make up (something)
creatively invent a lie or a fake story
She would often make up stories to make her life seem more interesting.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
53 come up with
to suggest or think of an idea or solution
He often comes up with interesting plans to become a millionaire.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
54 make up (with someone)
to repair a relationship
Sarah and John had another argument, but they always make up
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
50 dream up
55 heal up
when an injury gets better
His leg healed up really quickly considering it was broken four weeks ago.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
to become less drunk or intoxicated
A coffee and some breakfast will help you to sober up.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
57 patch up
to fix or make something whole again
I'm going to patch up the hole in my jumper.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
58 finish up
to complete something
Please finish up the design by Friday.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
59 wrap up
to begin to end or finish something
It's almost time to wrap up this lesson.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
60 drink up/eat up
finish your drink or food
Drink up! We're going to be late.
Your sentence: ___________________________________________________________________
50 + ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS!
56 sober up