Phrasal Verbs (G - J)

go off (of explosive devices e.g. bombs, guns etc.)

to explode or fire; (of alarms or alarm clocks) to ring suddenly

Many people were killed when the bomb went off. The bomb went off.

Go on

(happen - usually negative)

Something funny is going on.

go out with (inseparable)

have a date with

You went out with Sharon last night, didn't you?

Go round

(be enough)

There weren't enough life-jackets to go round.

go through

to examine (something)

When Ben entered this country, a custom's officer went through his suitcase. The officer took all of Ben's clothes out of his suitcase and looked at them very carefully. A custom's officer went through Ben's suitcase. A custom's officerwent through it.

Go through with

(complete a promise or plan - usually unwillingly)

When it came to actually stealing the money, Nora couldn't go through with it.

go with (1. no object)

to match or suit (something); look pleasing together. (Note: for clothes, furniture, etc.)

You should buy that shirt. It will go well with your dark brown suit. Tom wanted to see if checked trousers go with a striped jacket; he looked in a mirror and thought they looked horrible together. After trying a few other pairs of trousers he decided th

go with (2. no object)

date regularly and steadily

Is Gina going with Jim? I see them together all the time.

goof off (no object)

be lazy; do nothing in particular

A: "Do you have any special plans for your vacation?" B: "No. I'm just going to stay home and goof off."

Grow on

(become more liked - colloquial)

This new record is growing on me.

grow up (1. no object)

to develop from a child into an adult; spend the years between being a child and being an adult

Joe has grown up into a fine young man. Joe has grown up. Did you know that Frank grew up in Malaysia?

grow up (2. no object)

behave responsibly; behave as an adult, not a child

A: "Lee really irritates me sometimes. He's really silly and childish." B: "I agree. I wish he would grow up."

hand in (separable)

submit homework, an assignment, etc.

You'd better get started on your report. You know that you have to hand it in at 8:30 tomorrow morning!

hand out (separable)

distribute

Why don't you have a course description and list of assignments? The teacher handed them out on the first day of class.

hand over

Hang onto

(keep - colloquial)

I think we should hang onto the car until next year.

hang up (no object)

end a phone conversation by replacing the receiver

I'd like to talk longer, but I'd better hang up. My sister needs to make a call.

Have it in for

(be deliberately unkind to someone - also as have got)

My teacher has (got) it in for me.

Have it out with

(express feelings so as to settle a problem)

I put up with the problem for a while but in the end I had it out with her.

Have someone on

(deceive - colloquial)

I don't believe you. You 're having me on.

have to do with (inseparable)

be about

This class has to do with the behavior of people in groups.

Hit it off

(get on well with - colloquial)

Mark and Sarah really hit it off at the party.

Hit upon/on

(discover by chance - often an idea)

They hit upon the solution quite by chance.

hold on

to wait (especially on the telephone)

George phoned his office because he wanted some information. 'Hold on a minute and I'll get it for you,' said his assistant. His assistant asked him to hold on.

Hold out

(offer - especially with hope)

We don't hold out much hope that the price will fall.

hold up (1. separable)

raise; lift to a higher-than-normal position

The winner of the race proudly held his trophy up for all to see.

Hold up (2)

(use as an example - i.e. a model of good behaviour)

Jack was always held up as an example to me.

hold up (2) a person / a bank / a vehicle etc.

to rob, especially using a weapon (e.g. a gun)

Earlier today a masked robber with a gun held up the bank and escaped with a hundred thousand pounds. A robber held up the bank. A robber held the bank up. A robber held it up.

hold up (2. Separable, usually used in the passive)

to stop; to delay

I'm sorry I'm late. There was an accident on the freeway and traffic held me up. Sorry I'm late, I was held up in the traffic. The traffic was held up for a few hours because of an accident that blocked the road. The accident held up the traffic. The acci

hold up (3. separable)

rob; threaten someone with harm unless he/she gives her/his money or other valuable things

Sarah is very upset. When she was walking home last night, two men held her up and took her purse and jewelry.

Hold with

(agree with - an idea)

I don't hold with the idea of using force.

iron out (separable)

mutually reach an agreement; mutually resolve difficulties

Yes, I know we disagree on lots of things, Susan, but we can iron them out.

jack in

abandon

jack up (1. separable)

raise / life by using a jack

We'll have to jack the back of the car up before we can change the tire.

jack up (2. separable)

raise (used for prices)

The car dealer bought my old Ford for $750 and jacked the price up to $1,500 when they sold it.

jump all over (inseparable)

severely scold someone; berate someone

Arthur is really upset. His boss jumped all over him because he's been late for work three times this week.