Common Phrasal Verbs, Definition and Example Sentences

Common Phrasal Verbs, Definition and Example Sentences

Phrasal Verbs – CUT




Cut back

to reduce

The Government will cut  back on defence spending.

 

Cut in

to interrupt

When you cut in on our conversationwe were talking.

 

Cut into

to shortening into parts or to make sth smaller

Knives easily cut into the cake.

 

Cut across

to make a shorter route

If I cut across the field, it’ll save time.

 

Cut through

to go through by cutting

Wcut through the solid rock to build the tunnel .

 

Cut up

to cut into pieces

My mother cut up the onionand put them in the pot.

 

Cut out

to stop working

There are two enginesOne of them cut out yesterday.

 

Cut down

to use less of sth

I’m trying to cut down on sugar.

 

Cut off

to remove by cutting

He cut off all the overhanging branches in the garden.



Phrasal Verbs – GET

Get along

to have a friendly relationship

It’s impossible to get along with her.

 

Get out

to become known

I don’t want it to get out that I’m leaving.

 

Get across

to make sb understand

Your meaning didn’t really  get across.

 

Get away

to escape from sb/sth

She‘ll get away from work as soon as she can.

 

Get (sbdown

to make sb feel sad

When my work gets me downwant to resign.

 

Get through

to be connected by phone

I tried to call her but couldn’t get through.

 

Get around

to visit lots of places

It’s quite easy to get around London.

 

Get over

to overcome

How would you get over that problem?

 

Get ahead

to be success

He wants to get ahead in his career.

 

Get down (to)

to give serious atttention

Let’s get down to work.

Phrasal Verbs – LET

Let yourselft go

Meaning; to relax and enjoy yourself

Example Sentence; It’s a partyLet yourself go!

 

Let in

Meaning; to allow sth/sb to enter

Example Sentence; She opened the window to let in some fresh air.

 

Let into

Meaning; to put into the surface of sth

Example Sentence; A skylight had been let into the roof.

 

 

Let in on

Meaning; to allow sb to know sth

Example Sentence; I‘m going to let him in on a little secret.

 

Let off

Meaning; to allow sb to leave

Example Sentence; They‘ll let you off if you apologize.

 

Let through

Meaning; to allow to pass

Example Sentence; He was let through to the front of the queue.

 

Let up

Meaning; to stop or to diminish

Example Sentence; When the rain lets upyou can go to  outside.

 

Let out

Meaning; to release

Example Sentence; We don’t let heat out in winter.


Let down

Meaning; to disappoint

Example Sentence; I’m relying on youplease don’t let me down.

 

Let on

Meaning; to reveal

Example Sentence; She knows more than she’s letting on.

 

Phrasal Verbs – PUT

Put up with

Meaning:

to tolerate

Example Sentence:

 I can’t put up with it any longer.

 

Put away

Meaning:

to clean up, to tidy

Example Sentence:

Put away any valuable or breakable objects.

 

Put across

Meaning:

to explain sth clearly

Example Sentence:

He was trying to put across a serious point.

 

Put by

Meaning:

to save monet

Example Sentence:

Try to put by a little bit each week



 

Put off

Meaning:

to delay

Example Sentence:

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

 

Put through

Meaning:

to connect sb by phone

Example Sentence:

He asked to be put through to Charley Lunn.

 

Put in

Meaning:

to apply for sth

Example Sentence:

I decided to put in for a job as deputy secretary.

 

Put out

Meaning:

to stop burning

Example Sentence:

It took two hours to put out the fire

 

Put down

Meaning:

to write

Example Sentence:

Put down your name in capitals.

 

Put on

Meaning:

to wear

Example Sentence:

 She put on a new pair of nylon socks.

 

Phrasal Verbs – RUN

Run along

Meaning:

to tell sb to go away

Example Sentence:

 Run along now, childrenI’m busy.

 

Run after

Meaning:

to chase

Example Sentence:

Why do dogs run after cats?

 

Run across

Meaning:

to meet or to find unexpectedly

Example Sentence:

ran across some old friends at the party.

 

Run away

Meaning:

to leave a place or sb

Example Sentence:

The prisoners ran away from the prison.

 

Run into

Meaning:

to experience sth unexpectedly

Example Sentence:

I’ve run into difficulty  with the project.

 

Run against

Meaning:

to oppose towards sb or sth

Example Sentence:

Luck was really running against you yesterday!

 

Run around

Meaning:

to be very busy doing lots of things

Example Sentence:

The child ran around all day in the garden

 

Run over

Meaning:

to look at quickly

Example Sentence:

We‘ll just run over the main points again.

 

Run on

Meaning:

to continue without interruption

Example Sentence:

The discussion ran on for hours.

 

Run down

Meaning:

to decline in number or size

Example Sentence:

The battery has run down it needs recharging.

 

Phrasal Verbs – SET

Set about

Meaning:

to begin doing something

Example Sentence:

She set about studying.



 

Set forth

Meaning:

to start a journey

Example Sentence:

They set forth on their travels in early June.

 

Set off

Meaning:

to initiate sth working

Example Sentence:

Someone set off a fire extinguisher.

 

Set up

Meaning:

to place or to build sth

Example Sentence:

The travelers set up a camp on the river bank.

 

Set to

Meaning:

to make sb feel sad

Example Sentence:

When my work gets me down,  want to resign.

 

Set aside

Meaning:

to keep sth available for a purpose

Example Sentence:

We set aside some money for repairs.

 

Set in

Meaning:

to take root, start and continue

Example Sentence:

 The rainy season has set in.

 

Set on/upon sb

Meaning:

to attack sb

Example Sentence:

He was set on by a vicious dog.

 

Set down

Meaning:

to write

Example Sentence:

The rules for service have been set down.

 

Set back

Meaning:

to delay sth or sb

Example Sentence:

The government will set back the reforms.

 

Phrasal Verbs – TAKE

Take after sb

to resemble somebody

Your son doesn’t take after  you in any way.

 

Take apart

to seperate sth into parts

This crib takes apart for easy storage.

 

Take over

to get control of sth

He can take over the business when I’m away.

 

Take away

to remove sth/sb from

Take away the glasses and the tray.

 

Take in

to allow sb to stay in your home

My house is full; I can’t take in any more guests.

 

Take against

to start to dislike

Why have you suddenly taken against her?

 

Take down

to remove sth from a high position

Take down this book and read slowly.

 

Take on

to accept

Don’t take on more than you can handle.

 

Take off

to start flying

The plane will take off in a minute.

 

Take sth back

to return sth to its first place

I went to the library and took the books back.

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