Phrasal Verb

A verb phrase has no definite meaning when a phrasal verb has a definite meaning of its own.

Account for- To explain the reason for Account for- To explain the reason for.
Example- The owner asked the account for the delay.
Answer for – To be responsible for
Example- The thief had no answer for what he had done.
Ask after – To make inquiries about the health of someone
Example – Everyone asked after the actor.
Ask for– To demand
Example- Her sister asked for a new toy.
Back out– To withdraw from something before completion/to fail to keep promise
Example – Major payment companies back out of Facebook’s Libra Cryptocurrency.
Back up– To support
Example – We must have a financial back up to continue the work.
Bank upon/count on – To rely on
Example- “You can’t bank upon Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli only”, Ganguly to other players.
Bear down– To overthrow or crush by force
Example- Landslide and flood warning as 2 typhoons bear down on Japan.
Bear up – To withstand stress or difficulty
Example- Everyone has to bear up some difficulties.
Bear with- to tolerate with someone
Example – “Please bear with us. We do have a few ghosts in the machine. Trying to rectify these quickly.”
Become of– To happen
Example- I wonder, what became of his career.
Branch out– To spread
Example- Las Vegas Healing garden co-creator plan to branch out across the nation.
Break down- To stop working
Example- The initiative broke down within two year.
Break into– To enter by force
Example- A monkey broke into the room.
Break off– To stop suddenly/to end a relationship
Example- He broke off in the middle of a match, when he heard the news of his father.
Break out– To start suddenly(disease, war etc)
Example- Dengue has broken out in the area.
Break up– To end/disperse
Example- The company has broken up all ties with us.
Break through– To discover a secret
Example- Google announced a breakthrough in Quantum computing.
Bring about– Cause to happen
Example- “Sourav Ganguly as BCCI President can bring about improvement ”, – Wriddhiman Saha.
Bring along– To take someone/something
Example- Uber is making it easier to bring pets along for the ride.
Bring down– To overthrow(a government)/to reduce in position
Example- Tata sky has introduced an optimization feature for its subscribers to bring down monthly subscription cost.
Bring forward– To present
Example- The International Parlympic committee has told that it has powers to bring forward events if typhoons strike during Tokyo games.
Bring in– To produce, yield or earn
Example- “Day- Night Test cricket will certainly bring in the crowds”, Anil Kumble.
Bring on– To cause to happen
Example- Upcoming movie “Conjuring 3” will bring on the scares,chills and frights.
Bring out- To present to the public/to make some quality noticeable
Example- This Diwali let Ram’s spirit bring out best in us.
Bring round– To bring to one’s senses/ to make one agree to one’s opinion
Example- The trade Union succeeded in bringing the management round to their point of view.
Bring under- To control
Example- Reliance is planning to bring all digital units under one roof.
Bring up– To raise/ to rear/ to increase
Example- She wants to bring up her children exactly the way she was brought up.
Call on – To visit a person
Example-Yesterday my father called me on.
Call for– To demand
Example- We call for a bright nation.
Call off- To cancel
Example-They called off todays meeting.
Carry away- To arouse too much emotion/zeal
Example- I was carried away by the emotional scenes of Swadesh movie.
Come by – To get
Example- It is difficult to come by a good job now-a-days.
Carry on- To continue
Example- They always carried on good work.
Carry out- To complete or fulfill/to execute
Example- The sons are carrying out their father’s dream.
Chance upon- To meet/get by chance
Example- I chanced upon one of my friends when I was going to market.
Clear of- To free from blame
Example- Police cleared him of guilt.
Come about- To happen
Example- How did these huge losses in your business come about?
Come across- To find (unexpectedly) or meet by chance
Example- The movie has all hair loss tips we have ever come across on the Internet.
Come down- To become lower or cheaper
Example- Onion prices will come down soon.
Come forward – To offer help
Example- Everyone should come forward for good work.
Close down- To stop operating
Example- The petrol pumps closed down.
Come out- To come into public view happen
Come to- To gain consciousness or to recover/ to get result
Example- US and China have come to understanding on Trade relationship.
Come up – Mooted or raised for discussion
Example- The issue of safety came up twice during the meeting.
Count on- To depend on, to rely on
Example- The good behaviour counts on actual learning.
Cut in – To interrupt
Example- You should not cut in with your uncolicited advice.
Deal in- To have business of something
Example- He deals in sugar.
Deal with- To handle
Example- I have to deal with all type of people.
Die out- To get extinct
Example- Several species died out because of climate change.
Dispose of – To sell off/ to get rid of
Example- CBDT sets June 30 deadline to dispose of demonetisation cases.
Drag on- To stretch
Example- The court cases in many country drag on for years.
Enter into – To start or get involved
Example- The two countries will enter into new pact on security.
Fall back- To retreat
Example- PSUs fall back as private firms move ahead.
Fall off- To become less, decrease
Example- Stock prices have fallen off.
Figure out- To understand
Example- “It took me only one net session to figure out that he had extraordinary talent”, Coach
Gain on – To come close to someone or something that you are chasing
Example- I am gaining on them in my business. Soon I will leave them behind.
Get about/ around– Spread, move around or be socially active
Example- Good news are getting about organization in market.
Get away with – To do something wrong or illegal without getting caught or punished
Example- The thieves got away with all my belongings.
Get down- To direct attention toward something
Example- Please get down to your work.
Get on- To make progress, to be on harmonious terms
Example- He gets on well with all his neighbors.
Get rid of – To dispose of/ to leave
Example- I want to get rid of my bad habits.
Get through- To finish or assist in finishing
Example- If you work hard, you will get through this task in a week.
Give away- To distribute, to reveal, to betray
Example- The chief guest gave away the prizes.
Give up – To leave, to stop doing something/to yield
Example- She has given up smoking.
Go ahead- To start or continue to do something
Example- Go ahead if you are willing to get success in your business.
Go along- To cooperate
Example- I will go along with them on this issue.
Go through- To pass through a time
Example- Let me go through this book.
Go up- Increase
Example- Price of food grains went up due to famine.
Hold back – To retain in one/s possession, to restrain oneself
Example- Please hold back your emotions when you are talking to strangers.
Hold down– To prevent, to limit
Example- The militants were held down by the Indian army.
Hold on – To maintain one’s grip, to continue to do something despite difficulties, to wait for something wanted or requested
Example- Please hold on while we transfer your call to the executive.
Jump at – To draw conclusion in a hurry
Example- You should not jump at any conclusion without due deliberation.
Keep up– To maintain
Example- Keep up your confidence in every situation.
Knock down– To bring to the ground with a blow
Example- Three people were knocked down by a speeding car.
Laugh at– To make fun of
Example- We should not laugh at others.
Lay aside/ by– to make savings for future use
Example- Please lay some money aside for the rainy days.
Lay down – To give up for future use or surrender
Example- There is no alternative but to lay down your weapons.Lay out- To arrange according to plans
Let someone down– To disappoint someone
Example- Trust me, I will not let you down.
Live upto – To live or act in accordance with
Example- I couldn’t live up-to my parents’ expectation.
Look after – Take care of
Example- She has five family members to look after.
Look for- To try to find
Example- I am looking for my lost book.
Look forward– Expect with pleasure
Example- I am looking forward to meeting you soon.
Look into– Investigate
Example- Please look into this matter as soon as possible.
Make of- To understand, to produce or construct
Example- From What do you make of this news?
Make over- Convert, redo, renovate
Example- This place needs a complete makeover.
Mess up– to make an error
Example- I messed up a question and hence scored fewer marks.
Move on – To concentrate one’s other matter in recovering from a setback or difficulty.
Example- Control your emotions and move on in life.
Note down – To write something so that you don’t forget it
Example- Please note down the important points.
Pass away – To die
Example- He passed away in sleep.
Pay for- To suffer for doing some mistake or to give something in return of an object or service.
Example- We have to pay for our sins.
Play on – To take advantage of
Example- He played on her emotions.
Put down – To suppress/ to criticize
Example- Never put down your friends in public.
Put off – To postpone/ to repel ( as from bad manners)
Example- The meeting was put off due to heavy rains.
Put on – Assume/ to clothe oneself
Example- Put on your sweater.
Pay off – To be successful
Example- Hard work pays off.
Run down – Become weak/disparage/to criticize/to crush
Example- Do not run down your spouse in public.
Run into – Transform into/amount upto/to face/to meet by chance
Example- I ran into my childhood friends in the market.
See through – To realize the truth
Example- I saw through his evil intention.
See off – To take leave of
Example- I went to the station to see off my friends.
Send for – To call, summon
Example- Please, send for a doctor.
Set up – To establish
Example- He set up a new business.
Sort out – To find a solution or to select or categorise
Example- Please sort out my problems.
Stand by – To remain loyal/ to be ready
Example- I will stand by you through thick and thin.
Step down – To resign from a high post or to diminish
Example- He stepped down after being alleged of corruption.
Step in- To intervene
Example- The boss stepped in when the fight turned ugly.
Step out – To quit
Example- Step out of my way.
Taken aback– To be surprised
Example- I was taken aback by his audacity.
Take after – To resemble a close, older relative
Example- He has taken after his father.
Take down – To write down
Example- Please take down the important points.
Take over – To take responsibility for or control of
Example- A new secretary has taken over the key post.
Turn down – To refuse or reject
Example- He turned down my offer.
Turn out (to be) – To prove to be
Example- He turned out to be a crook.
Wear off – To lose effect Soon
Example- The polish started wearing off .
Weigh down –To make anxious, to burden
Example- Men were weighed down with added responsibilities.

Exercises
A. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate phrasal verb.
1. The teacher ………………… an explanation of his conduct.
a. called off
b. called out
c. called in
d. called for

2. ………………… the doctor immediately.
a. Call on
b. Call in
c. Call at

3. Julie …………………. us yesterday.
a. called on
b. called in
c. called out

4. My grandfather cannot ………………… past events.
a. call up
b. bring out
c. bring up

5. His arrogance ………………… his ruin.
a. brought in
b. brought up
c. brought about

6. The publishers are planning to ………………… a cheap edition of their new dictionary.
a. bring up
b. bring out
c. bring in

7. She …………………. the orphan as her own child.
a. brought out
b. brought up
c. brought in
d. brought about

8. How did these things …………………..?
a. come up
b. come about
c. bring out
d. bring about

9. The question ………………… before the municipal corporation last week.
a. came out
b. came up
c. came off

10. He seems to be …………………
a. well out
b. pull off
c. run off
d. well off

11. They ………………… against the gross injustice meted out to them.
a. cried up
b. cried out
c. cried away

12. The rope ……………….. while they were hauling up the pillar.
a. gave up
b. gave in
c. gave way
d. gave out

B. Complete the sentences. You may take help from the given phrasal verbs,
(passed away, do without, look forward to, called off, made up, carried away, break out, run out, put up with, keep up.)
1. Don’t smoke in the forest. Fires …………… easily at this time of the year.
2. I …………… seeing my friends again.
3. I’m afraid; we have …………… of apple juice. Will an orange juice do?
4. Your website has helped me a lot to …………… the good work.
5. A friend of mine has …………… her wedding.
6. His mother can’t …………… his terrible behavior anymore.
7. As an excuse for being late, she …………… a whole story.
8. I got …………… by his enthusiasm.
9. I just cannot …………… my mobile. I always keep it with me.
10. She was very sad because her father …………… last week.

C. Complete the phrasal verbs with the correct particles.
1. I don’t know where my book is. I must look …………… it.
2. Fill …………… the form, please.
3. The music is too loud. Could you turn …………… the volume, please?
4. Quick, get …………… the bus or you’ll have to walk home.
5. Turn …………… the lights when you go to bed.
6. Do you mind if I switch …………… the TV? I’d like to watch the news.
7. The dinner was ruined. I had to throw it …………….
8. When you enter the house, take …………… your shoes and put …………… your slippers.
9. If you don’t know this word, you can look it …………… in a dictionary.

D. Complete the phrasal verbs according to their meanings in paranthesis.
1. ……………your shoes.(Remove)
2. Somebody has to …………… the baby. (Take care of)
3. She wants to …………… the truth? (Discover)
4. Where can I …………… the sweater? (See if it fits)
5. Why don’t you …………… ? (Take a seat)
6. I will …………… the train now. (Enter)
7……………. the word in a dictionary. (Consult a dictionary)
8. I want to …………… the form. (Complete)
9. The firemen …………… the fire.(Extinguish)