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Phrasal Verb
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Definition
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Example
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ask out *
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invite someone to do something
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David asked Linda out to dinner. |
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be against
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oppose
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Joyce is against building a liquor store on the empty lot in
her neighborhood. |
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be back
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return
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I will be back after I return the movies. |
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be fed up with
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be tired of something or someone
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Vicki is fed up with using the new computer program. It never
works correctly.
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be over
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end, finish
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Class will be over in a few minutes.
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break into
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enter without permission
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Bob's cousin is a troublemaker. He was arrested for
breaking into an office.
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bring up *
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mention a topic
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Don't bring up his ex-wife! That topic always makes
him angry.
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call off *
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cancel
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The baseball was called off because of the rain.
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catch up with
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reach someone (used when one is behind someone else)
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The student was sick for two weeks. If she studies
hard though, she might be able to catch up with the rest of the class.
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cheer up *
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become happy
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Keila was sad but her children cheered her up.
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come up with
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create an idea
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Harold needs to come up with a way to get more students into
the ESL computer labs.
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count on
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rely
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You can always count on Lucia to be at work on time.
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do without
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manage without something
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It will be difficult to teach writing class while the printer
is broken but we can do without it for a few days.
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feel up to
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feel strong enough to do something
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After being sick for two weeks, Willa finally felt up to
going to work.
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figure out *
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solve, understand
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Sophorn could not figure out the algebra problem.
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fill in *
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complete a form
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Lisbeth filled in a job application.
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find out *
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discover something
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The little boy found out where his parents were hiding his
Christmas presents.
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get away
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escape
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The car thief couldn't get away from the police.
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get away with
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do something bad without getting caught
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Some people get away with cheating on their taxes every year.
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get back
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return to one's home
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I'll make dinner after I get back from the supermarket.
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get over
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recover
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Karren had a bad cold but she finally got over it.
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get through
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complete, finish
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Julie had a lot of paperwork to do but she got through it
by Thursday.
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give in
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finally agree to something
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Lupe didn't want to go to see a movie but she ultimately
gave in and went.
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give up *
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stop trying
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Sarik tried to solve the math problem but it was too hard
so she gave up.
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go ahead
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continue
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If I'm not home by 7 p.m., go ahead and have dinner without
me.
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go away
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leave
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Shelly told Art to go away because he was bothering her.
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go on
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continue doing something
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The birthday party went on even though the "birthday girl"
had left.
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go out
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leave one's home to go somewhere else
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Juday likes to go out with her friends every weekend.
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grow up
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mature, become an adult
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Children grow up quickly.
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hold on
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wait
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The operator told me to hold on while she looked up the telephone
number.
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hold up
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rob
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The robbers tried to hold up a bank near the traffic circle.
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let someone down
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disappoint
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You really let Susana down when you forgot her birthday.
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leave out *
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omit, forget to include something
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The letter came back because I left out part of the address.
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look after
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take care of something or someone
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Jamie looked after our dogs while we were on vacation.
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look forward to
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expect with pleasure
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Students always look forward to time off from school.
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look up *
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visit
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Lorraine looked up some old friends while she was in New
Mexico.
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make up for
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compensate, to do something for someone because you did something
wrong or forgot to do something
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I'm sorry that I forgot your birthday but I'll take you to
your favorite restaurant to make up for it.
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move out
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permanently leave a house or apartment
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Jenny moved out of her house and went back to Seattle.
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pick up *
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collect or get something
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Will you pick up my prescription from the pharmacy?
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pick up * - slightly different meaning than above
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give a ride to someone
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Since his car was broken, Fran had to pick her husband up
from work.
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point out *
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explain
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The salesman pointed out the benefits of the more expensive
model.
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put back *
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replace, return
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Please put back DVD's when you are done watching them.
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put off *
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postpone
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Sron put off doing his homework since it wasn't due until the following
week.
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put up with
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tolerate
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Most people can put up with anything for at least a little
while.
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run into
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meet someone unexpectedly
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Somaly was surprised to run into Thahn at the post office.
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run out of
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use all of something
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Lupe cannot make any more tamales. She's run out of
masa.
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see about
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make inquiry, make arrangements
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Jane called the hotel to see about getting reservations for
the conference.
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see off *
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say goodbye to someone who will be gone for a long time
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Enrique saw Kris off at the airport.
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stand up for
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defend
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The little boy stood up for his sister when the other children
teased her.
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take off *
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remove clothing
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The classroom was hot so many students took off their jackets.
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take over *
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become the leader, become in charge of something
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Dr. Elimelech took over as the department chair when Bernice
retired.
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talk over *
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discuss something
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Chanborry sometimes talks over her problems with her friends.
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think over *
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consider carefully, think hard about something
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I'm not sure if I can afford this car. I need to go
home and think it over.
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try on *
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put on clothing or jewelry (to see if it fits or if it looks
good)
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Raul tried on the shirts before buying them.
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try out *
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test
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You should try out the television before you buy it.
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turn down *
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refuse, reject
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Dana applied for a car loan but the bank turned her down.
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turn out
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end, result (how a situation will resolve itself)
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Things usually seem to turn out for the best.
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turn down *
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decrease (volume, intensity, etc.)
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Steve's dad told him to turn down the stereo. I was
too loud.
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turn up *
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increase (volume, intensity, etc.)
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Will you turn up the volume? I can't hear the movie.
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wear out *
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use something until it can no longer be used
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Carlos replaced his car's brake pads because they had worn
out.
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work out *
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find a solution
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The people across the street were having marriage problems but
they were able to work them out.
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