Phrasal Verbs (A - C)

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

Examples

act up (no object)

misbehave (for people); not work properly (for machines)

The baby sitter had a difficult time. The children acted up all evening.

"I guess I'd better take my car to the garage. It's been acting up lately."

act like (inseparable)

behave in a way that's like _____ Note: This phrasal verb is very informal.

What's wrong with Bob? He's acting like an idiot.

Add up

(make sense)

His evidence just doesn 't add up.

add up (1. no object)

logically fit together Note: This phrasal verb is often negative

His theory is hard to believe, but his research adds up.

"His theory seems, at first, to be plausible, but the facts in his research don't add up."

add up (2. separable)

find the total.

What's the total of those bills? Could you add them up and see?

add up to (inseparable)

to total.

The bills add up to $734.96. That's more than I expected!

Ask after

(inquire about)

Jim was asking after you.

ask out (separable)

ask for a date.

Nancy has a new boy friend. Joe asked her out last night.

back down (no object)

not follow a threat; yield In an argument

Tom was going to call the police when I told him I'd wrecked his car, but he backed down when I said I'd pay for the damages. Shella was right, so Paul had to back down.

back off (no object)

not follow a threat

Tom was ready to call the police when I told him I'd wrecked his car, but he backed off when I said I'd pay for the damages.

back up (1. no object)

move backward; move in reverse

You missed the lines in the parking space. You'll have to back up and try again. "The people waiting in line are too close to the door. We won't be able to open it unless they back up."

back up (2. separable)

drive a vehicle backwards (in reverse)

You're too close! Back your car up so I can open the garage door.

back up (3. separable)

confirm a story, facts, or information

If you don't believe me, talk to Dave. He'll back me up.

back up (4. separable)

make a "protection" copy to use if there are problems with the original

When my computer crashed, I lost many of my files. It's a good thing I backed them up.

Bargain for

(take into acount)

We hadn't bargained for there being so much traffic, and we missed the plane.

be off (1) usually used in the present tense (of an event / an arrangement etc.)

to be cancelled

The lead singer of 'The Rolling Beatles' pop group is ill, so tonight's concert is off. The concert is off.

be off (2) (of food)

to have gone bad

Nick decided to have a fried egg for breakfast, but there was a terrible smell when he cracked the egg. 'This egg is off,' he thought. I can't eat it.' The egg is off.

be over

to be finished

The storm is over; it has stopped raining and the sun is shining. The storm is over.

be taken aback used in the passive

to be surprised and confused

Jeff was taken aback when he opened the door and discovered an elephant. Jeff was taken aback by the discovery of an elephant. Jeff was taken aback.

Bear out

(confirm the truth)

Helen's alibi was borne out by her sister.

beat up

to hurt someone badly by hitting and punching

Two men beat Fred up and left him lying unconscious on the pavement. They beat up Fred. They beat Fred up. They beat him up.

beg off (no object)

decline an invitation; ask to be excused from doing something

At first Lily said she would be at the party. Later she begged off.

blow up (1)

to destroy (something or someone) by explosion; to explode

Mr Trent hated his house, so he blew it up with dynamite and built a new one instead. Mr Trent blew up his house. Mr Trent blew his house up. Mr Trent blew it up. The house blew up.

blow up (1. separable)

inflate

We needs lots of balloons for the party. Will you blow them up?

blow up (2)

a balloon/a tyre /a football etc. to fill with air; to inflate

Uncle Joe blew up the balloons for the Christmas party. Uncle Joe blew up the balloons. Uncle Joe blew the balloons up. Uncle Joe blew them up.

blow up (2. separable)

explode; destroy by exploding

A: "That old building really came down quickly!" B: "That's because the construction company used dynamite to blow it up."

blow up (3. no object)

suddenly become very angry

Whe I told Jerry that I'd had an accident with his car, he blew up.

bone up on (inseparable)

review / study thoroughly for a short time

If you're going to travel to Peru, you'd better bone up on your Spanish.

break down (1) (of machinery)

to stop working.

Tom's car broke down on the way to the airport, and he had to get a taxi. I His car broke down.

break down (1. separable)

separate something into component parts

We spent a lot of money at the supermarket. When we broke the total cost down, we spent more on cleaning supplies than food.

break down (2)

to lose control emotionally or mentally.

Alec broke down and cried when his mother died. I Alec broke down. David broke down and wept when he heard the news.

break down (2. no object)

stop working / functioning

Sharon will be late for work today. Her car broke down on the freeway.

break in (1. often no object; with an object, break into--inseparable)

enter by using force (and breaking a lock, window, etc.)

Jane's apartment was burglarized last night. Someone broke in while Jane was at the movies. / "Somebody broke into Jane's apartment while she was at the movies.

break in (2. separable)

wear something new until it's / they're comfortable

These are nice shoes, but they're too stiff. I hope it doesn't take too long to break them in.

break in (3. separable)

train; get someone / something accustomed to a new routine

I hope I can learn my new job quickly. The manager hasn't scheduled much time for breaking me in.

break into a building / a bank / a house etc.

to enter somewhere (e.g. a house) illegally, especially by force.

Last night a burglar broke into my house and stole my television set. A burglar broke into my house. A burglar broke into it.

break off talks / negotiations / an engagement / a relationship / an agreement etc.

to end; to interrupt; to discontinue, stop talking

Peace talks between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. have broken off after three days of serious disagreement. Peace talks between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. have broken off. The U.S.A. has broken off peace talks with the U.S.S.R. They have broken off peace t

break out (of unpleasant things e.g. wars, epidemics, fires, violence etc.)

to start, usually suddenly

The Second World War broke out on 3 September, 1939. In 1939 World War Two broke out. World War Two broke out in 1939. World War Two broke out on 3 September, 1939.

Break out in spots / a rash / a cold sweat ('to show signs of great fear)

to become covered by (something).

Cyril broke out in spots this morning. He broke out in spots. He broke out in them.

break up (1. no object)

disperse; scatter; come to an end

What time did the party break up last night? The party finally broke up at 3.00 am.

Break up (2) (of a marriage / a family / a relationship etc.)

to end; to separate.

The Greens' marriage broke up in 1985 after only two years. Their marriage broke up. They broke up. Money trouble broke up their marriage. Money trouble broke it up.

Break up (2) an activity

to stop.

The headmaster broke up the fight between Roger and Clive. The headmaster broke up the fight. The headmaster broke the fight up. The headmaster broke it up. The fight broke up.

break up (2. usually no object; with an object, break up with [inseparable)])

end a personal relationship

Tim and Julie aren't going steady any more. They got really angry with each other and broke up. "Have you heard the news? Julie broke up with Tim!" "I'm sorry to hear that their marriage broke up. I'm sure the divorce will be difficult for the children."

bring / take back (separable)

return something

Yes, you can borrow my pen, don't forget to bring it back to me when you're finished. "This book is due tomorrow. I guess I should take it back to the library."

Bring about

(cause to happen)

The crisis was brought about by Brenda 's resignation.

Bring off

(succeed in doing something)

The team tried few ears to win the competition and they finally brought it off.

bring off (separable)

accomplish something difficult; accomplish something people had considered impossible or unlikely

No one thought Chuck could get an A in that course, but he brought it off.

Bring on (1)

(cause the onset of an illness)

Sitting in the damp brought on his rheumatism.

Bring on (2)

(cause trouble to happen to) oneself

You have brought this on/upon yourself.

Bring round

(influence someone to your point of view)

After much discussion, I brought the committee round to my point of view.

bring up (1. separable)

mention (as a topic of discussion)

We planned to discuss overtime pay in the meeting. Why didn't someone bring that topic up? I feel I ought to bring up another small matter.

bring up (2. separable)

raise; rear; to take care of a child until it is fully grown and able to care for itself; to train and prepare a child for adult life. Note: Children are educated at school.

Lucy's parents died when she was a baby. Her grandparents brought her up. Joe's mother brought him up well. She loved him, cared for him and taught him how to behave himself. Now he is a polite young man and his mother is proud of him. She brought up Joe.

brush up

to improve your knowledge, skill, or memory of (something you used to know, or do, but have now partly forgotten).

Frank's visit to the international business conference in Paris was a disaster because his French was so bad. His boss said, 'When you get back to England you must brush up your French by enrolling in an evening class.' Frank must brush up his French. Fra

brush up on (inseparable)

review / study thoroughly for a short time

If you're going to travel to Peru, you'd better brush up on your Spanish.

burn down (no object)

become destroyed / consumed by fire Note: For upright things--trees, buildings, etc.—only

Lightning struck Mr. Kennedy's barn last night. It burned down before the fire fighters arrived.

burn down (usually of buildings)

to destroy by burning.

My house burned down last night. In the morning it was just a pile of ashes. My house burned down. Someone burned down my house. Someone burned my house down. Someone burned It down.

burn up (1. no object)

become destroyed / consumed by fire Note: For people and non-upright things only

All of Mr. Kennedy's hay burned up when his barn burned down.

burn up (2. separable)

cause someone to become very angry

Did you hear how rudely Fred talked to me? That really burned me up!

butt in (no object)

impolitely interrupt (a conversation, an action)

Hey, you! Don't butt in! Wait for your turn!

butter up (separable)

praise someone excessively with the hope of getting some benefit

I guess Martin really wants to be promoted. He's been buttering his boss up all week.

call off an event / an arrangement / an activity etc. often used in the passive (separable)

cancel something that has been scheduled; to abandon something that has already begun.

The Football Association called off the match between England and Greece because of bad weather. The Football Association called off the match. The Football Association called the match off. The Football Association called it off. The match was called off

call on (inseparable)

ask someone for an answer in class

I don't know why the teacher never calls on you. You always know the answer.

Call up

(mobilise for military service)

Mark was called up when the war broke out.

calm down a person / a difficult situation etc. (with or without an object; with an object, separable)

become calm / less agitated or upset; help someone become calm / less agitated or upset

Why are you so upset? Suzie didn't intend to spill orange juice on you. Calm down! "I know Ralph is upset, but can you calm him down? He's making so much noise that he's irritating everyone in the office." My father was very angry and it took him ten minu

care for (1. inseparable) Note. used with (not)

like; want Note: This phrasal verb is usually negative, though it may be used affirmatively in questions

A: "Would you care for something to drink? We have coffee, tea, or orange juice." B: "Could I have water, please? I don't care for coffee, tea, or juice."

care for (2. inseparable)

take care of; supply care to; attend / watch.

Amy's father got out of the hospital last week. The family is caring for him at home.

Carry off

(complete successfully - perhaps despite a problem)

Jane had a difficult role to play, but she carried it off.

Carry out

(complete a plan)

The attack was successfully carried out.

carry out instructions / a duty / an order / a threat / a test etc.

to fulfill or perform (something).