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50 Important Phrasal Verbs in English

Speak English With Vanessa・38 minutes read

Phrasal verbs are essential in daily conversations, with various meanings like "to add up" or "to back somebody up." Understanding these verb combinations is crucial for effective communication.

Insights

  • Phrasal verbs consist of two or three words that alter the meaning of the original verb, commonly used in everyday conversations, making it essential to understand their nuances.
  • Different phrasal verbs like "to add up," "to back somebody up," or "to blow up" carry distinct meanings, from indicating illogical situations to showing support for someone or sudden anger, showcasing the variety and depth of language nuances within daily interactions.

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Recent questions

  • What does "call off" mean?

    Canceling an event or activity.

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Summary

00:00

Understanding Common Phrasal Verbs in English

  • Phrasal verbs are two or three-part verbs that change the meaning of the original verb.
  • They are common in daily conversations and understanding them is crucial.
  • "To add up" means something doesn't make sense or is illogical.
  • "To back somebody up" means to support someone.
  • "To blow up" means to become suddenly angry.
  • "To bring on" means to accept a challenge with confidence.
  • "To bring up" means to mention a topic that may lead to a long discussion.
  • "To call off" means to cancel an event like a wedding.
  • "To calm down" means to relax or unwind.
  • "To catch up" means to meet with someone you haven't seen in a while to find out what's been happening in their life.

15:26

Navigating Life's Interactions and Tasks

  • Cutting off in driving refers to a sudden stop or interruption caused by another vehicle, leading to potential danger.
  • Cutting off in conversation involves abruptly stopping someone mid-sentence, often due to disbelief or disagreement.
  • Dropping by or dropping in signifies a spontaneous and usually brief visit to someone's location.
  • Ending up describes the final outcome or decision after initial plans or intentions change.
  • Figuring out involves attempting to solve a problem or understand a situation.
  • Filling in refers to providing someone with missing information or details, often in a spoken context.
  • Filling out entails completing written forms or paperwork with necessary information.
  • Finding out denotes discovering new information or learning something previously unknown.
  • Getting along or getting along with indicates having a friendly and positive relationship with others.
  • Getting around to doing something implies eventually completing a task that has been delayed or postponed.

30:16

Phrasal Verbs: Encouragement, Caution, and Action

  • "Hold on" can be used figuratively to mean clinging to a moment in conversation, like when expressing shock or surprise.
  • The phrasal verb "hold on" is used in the song "Hold on, I'm coming" by Sam & David, encouraging someone to stay and not leave.
  • "Keep on" is a phrasal verb used to encourage continued practice or persistence in an activity to improve over time.
  • "Look forward to" expresses excitement or anticipation for future events or experiences, contrasting between exciting and less exciting prospects.
  • "Look out" advises being cautious or careful, especially when hiking and watching out for snakes.
  • "Look up" means searching for information, like in a dictionary or online, to gain more knowledge about a specific topic.
  • "Pull over" is used when stopping a vehicle, often in response to police lights, to ensure safety and compliance with traffic laws.
  • "Put off" refers to delaying or postponing something, like learning phrasal verbs, until a later time.
  • "Put up with" means tolerating or enduring something, like someone's singing, even if it's not enjoyable.
  • "Run away" can mean escaping or leaving a place, like a lazy dog not running away or a child attempting to leave home.
  • "Run into" signifies unexpectedly encountering someone or something, like running into a bear while hiking or meeting an old teacher at a store.
  • "Run out of" indicates depleting or exhausting a supply, like running out of milk and eggs, necessitating a trip to the store.
  • "Stick with" implies continuing with a particular choice or activity, like sticking with playing the drums after trying other instruments.
  • "Think over" advises considering or contemplating a decision carefully before making a big purchase or commitment.
  • "Turn down" means refusing or rejecting something, like turning down dessert when full or being refused in a marriage proposal.
  • "Turn off" suggests stopping or shutting down something, such as turning off a phone before bed or quieting a busy mind to relax and sleep.

44:52

"Mind Shutdown Key to Restful Sleep"

  • Turning off your brain before bed is crucial to stop the flow of thoughts and energy, similar to turning off a phone.
  • "Turning up" means appearing unexpectedly, like showing up unannounced at a party or a missing cat reappearing.
  • "To warm up to" signifies taking time to start liking someone or something, akin to a curling iron gradually heating up.
  • "Watch out" serves as a cautionary phrase to be aware of potential dangers, like falling rocks or bees, while hiking.
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