Phrasal Verbs (K - M)

keep on (1. inseparable--followed by an -ing verb)

continue

I'm not ready to stop yet. I think I'll keep on working for a while.

keep on (someone) (2. inseparable)

continue to remind someone to do something until he/she does it (even if this irritates her/him)

Bill's very forgetful. You'll have to keep on him or he'll never do all the things you want him to do.

Keep up

(continue)

Well done' Keep up the good work.

kick out (separable)

expel; force someone to leave because of his/her poor performance or unacceptable behavior

Jim's club kicked him out because he didn't pay his dues or come to meetings.

knock oneself out (separable)

work much harder than normal or than what is expected

We completed the project on time because of Chuck. He knocked himself out to be sure we didn't miss the deadline.

knock out (separable)

make unconscious

The boxing match ended when one boxer knocked the other one out. "That medicine really knocked me out. I slept for 14 hours straight!"

Lay down

(state arule- especially lay down the law)

The company has laid down strict procedures for this kind of situation.

lay off (separable; often passive)

to stop employing (a worker), often for a short time because there is not enough work (not because of poor performance)

Last year the manager of Bloggs Ltd laid off a hundred workers because business was very bad. He laid off a hundred workers. He laid a hundred workers off. He laid them off. They were laid off. I feel really sorry Sally's family. Her father was laid off y

leave out (separable)

forget; omit

Oh, no! When I made the list of those who attended the meeting, I left your name out!

let down (separable)

to disappoint someone (often by breaking a promise or an agreement)

Sorry to let you down, but I can't give you a lift today. Julia promised to meet Rick outside the cinema at eight o'clock, but she let him down. He waited for two hours and then he went home angrily. Julia let Rick down. Julia let him down. I know I let

Let in on

(allow to be part of a secret)

We haven't let Tina in on the plans yet.

let off

to excuse (someone) from (a punishment, a duty, or doing something)

As Dave was young, the judge let him off with a fine. Bill should have been sent to prison for six months, but the judge decided to let him off so that he could stay out of prison and take care of his family. The judge let Bill off going to prison. The ju

Let on

(inform about a secret - colloquial)

We're planning a surprise for Helen, but don't let on.

let out

to allow (a person or an animal) to leave (a place); to release

They let Fred out of prison after five years. They let Fred out of prison. They let Fred out. They let him out.

let up (no object)

become less intense or slower

It's been raining hard for a long time. Will it ever let up?

Live down Note. used with (not)

(suffer a loss of reputation)

If City lose, they'll never live it down.

Live up to

(reach an expected standard)

The play quite lived up to my expectations.

look after someone or something

to take care of someone or something

Looking after a baby is a full-time job. You have to bath it, dress it and feed it. She looks after the baby. She looks after It.

look back on (inseparable)

to remember and think about the past; reflect on / consider something in the past

When they looked back on their many years together, they realized that their marriage had been a very happy one. The Blacks have been married for many years. They like talking about the past and looking back on old times. At the moment they are looking at

look down on (inseparable)

hold in contempt; regard as inferior

It's not surprising that Fred has few friends. He seems to look down on anyone who doesn't like the same things that he does.

look down on someone or something

to think that someone (or something) is inferior, low or worthless; to disapprove of (someone or something)

Sir Douglas is a very rich aristocrat. Fred is a very poor tramp. Sir Douglas thinks that he is a much better person than Fred-he looks down on Fred. Sir Douglas looks down on Fred. Sir Douglas looks down on him.

look for something or someone

to try to find (something or someone), often athing or person that is lost

Fred wanted to open his front door but he couldn't find his key. He looked for it everywhere. It's in one of my pockets,' he thought. He looked for his key. He looked for it.

look forward to a future event (inseparable)

anticipate pleasantly; to think with pleasure about a future event that you expect to enjoy

I'm really looking forward to vacation. I can't wait for it to begin! Bill Bloggs has been in prison for the last ten years. Next year he'll be released from prison and he'll be a free man. Bill is looking forward to next year. Bill is looking forward to

look in on (inseparable)

visit in order to check something's / someone's condition

My father just came home from the hospital. I plan to look in on him today after I finish work.

look into a situation / a crime / a problem /a complaint etc. (inseparable)

investigate / get more details about something; to carefully examine a situation or event and try to discover the reasons for it

The police have promised to look into the problem. Someone said there was a meeting at 9:30 but I haven't heard anything about it. Shall I look into it? The police are looking into the death of Mr James. They want to know how he was murdered. They are loo

look like (inseparable)

resemble (in appearance)

Does he look like his father or his mother?

Look on

(consider)

We look on this town as our real home.

look over some work / a car / a house / a document / a suggestion / an applicant etc. (separable)

check; review; to examine (someone or something) carefully and fully

I think I may have some typos in this report. Could you look it over? Joe wanted to buy a second-hand car. 'That one looks good,' he said to the salesman. 'Give me some time to look it over. If it's in good condition, I'll buy it.' He looked the car over.

look round a house / a shop / a town / a factory / an exhibition etc.

to visit and tour round a place.

Mr and Mrs Smith wanted to buy a house. The estate agent took them to see a house in the centre of town and said, 'Look round the house and see if it's what you want.' They looked round the house. They looked round it. They went into the house and looked

look up (1. separable) a word / a telephone number / an address / a train time/a date etc.

to find (or try to find) something (e.g. a telephone number) in a book (e.g. a telephone directory)

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what that word means. I'll have to look it up." While Peter was reading he found a word that he didn't understand. 'This is a difficult word,' he thought. I'll look it up in the dictionary and see what it means. He looked up

look up (2. separable)

visit when in the area; find where someone lives or works and visit him/her

If you're passing through Athens, look me up. Thanks for giving me your brother's address. When I'm in Chicago next month, I'll be sure to look him up.

look up to someone (inseparable)

to respect (someone); to admire (someone)

Everyone looks up to Joyce because she always makes time to help others. Young Jimmy's favourite footballer is Ted Ross of Arsenal. Jimmy looks up to Ted and he tries to be like him. Jimmy looks up to Ted Ross. Jimmy looks up to him.

luck out (no object)

be unexpectedly lucky

Gloria was worried because she wasn't prepared to give a report at the meeting, but she lucked out because the meeting was postponed.

make for (1. inseparable)

go to or toward

Her teen-aged children are always hungry. As soon as they arrive home from school, they make for the refrigerator.

make for (2. inseparable)

result in; cause

Many hands make for light work. (If many people work together, there's less work for everyone.) The power steering makes for easier parking.

make fun of (inseparable)

make jokes about (usually unkindly)

I agree that Bob looks ridiculous since he shaved his head, but don't make fun of him. You'll hurt his feelings.

Make off with

(run away with)

The thief made off with a valuable necklace.

Make out (1)

(pretend)

Tim made out that he hadn 't seen the No Smoking sign.

make out (1) often used in the negative with can't and couldn 't

manage to see or understand; to see, hear, or understand (something or someone), often with difficulty; see / hear something well enough to understand what it means. (Note: often negative.)

I couldn 't quite make out what the notice said. Bob saw something on the horizon as he was looking through his binoculars. At first he couldn't make out what it was, but after a few minutes he could just make out the shape of a yacht. He couldn't make ou

make out (2) a cheque

to write (a cheque)

I made out a cheque for ten pounds. I made out a cheque. I made a cheq ue out. I made it out.

Make someone out

(understand someone's behaviour)

Janet is really odd. I can't make her out.

make up (1)

to become friends again after a quarrel

Yesterday Joan and Jack had a big argument about politics. Earlier today they decided to forget their differences and make up. Joan and Jack made up. Joan and Jack made up their quarrel. Joan and Jack made it up. Jack made up with Joan. Jack made it up wi

make up (1. separable)

invent / create (imaginary) information

Judy's story is hard to believe. I'm sure she made it up. I think you made up the whole story.

make up (2) a story / a poem / an excuse / an explanation etc.

to invent, sometimes with the purpose of deception

Colin overslept and was late for work. It was the third time he had overslept that month, so he decided to make up an excuse. He told his boss that the engine of his car had exploded. He made up an excuse. He made an excuse up. He made It up.

make up (2. separable)

compensate for something missed or not done by doing extra or equivalent work

I'm sorry I missed the test. May I make it up?

make up (with) (3. inseparable)

re-establish a friendly relationship by admitting guilt

Jack and his girlfriend were very angry with each other, but last night they finally made up. "Jack and his girlfriend were very angry with each other, but last night they finally made up with each other."

make up for a mistake /doing or not doing something etc.

to compensate for

Our success makes up for all the hard times. June and Ron arranged to meet outside the cinema at 7.30 p.m. June was very upset when Ron arrived an hour late. Ron made up for being late by apologizing to June and giving her a big bunch of flowers. He made

mark down (separable)

reduce the price (as an incentive to buy)

These shoes were really a bargain! The store marked them down by 40%!

mark up (separable)

increase the price (for resale)

Mrs. White's import shop is profitable because she buys things inexpensively and then marks them up.

Miss out (1)

(fail to include)

You have missed out a word here.

Miss out (2)

(lose a chance - colloquial)

Five people got promoted, but I missed out again.

mistake for

to think wrongly that (one thing or person) is (another thing or person)

I frightened rpyself last night when I mistook a piece of old rope for a dangerous snake. I mistook a piece of old rope for a dangerous snake. I saw a piece of old rope and I mistook it for a dangerous snake.

mix up (separable)

cause to become confused

I didn't complete the assignment because I didn't know how. The directions mixed me up.