HOW TO USE THE PHRASAL
VERBS ALL IN ONE
Definition: A phrasal verb is a kind of
verb which combines with an adverbial
particle or a preposition and it is translated in two different ways –
literally and idiomatically.This list is the first fifteen of the list of 150
most common phrasal verbs.
1. GO ON
1. Happen, take place (64.5%)
There is a debate going on right now
between the two parties.
2. (+ To) Proceed to do or tackle STH
after doing STH else (13%)
Does anyone have any questions before
I go on to the next chapter?
2. PICK UP
1. Get or take SB/STH from a place
(70.5%)
Can you pick up some food on the way
home from work please?
3. COME BACK
1. Return to a place or a
conversation topic (96.5%)
She came back to the kitchen with a
bottle of fancy wine.
4. COME UP
1. (+ with) Bring forth or produce
(34%)
She instantly came up with a solution
to the problem.
2. (Be coming up) Be happening soon
(esp. be broadcast soon) (27.5%)
Coming up after the news, our cooking
program will feature cheese.
5. GO BACK
1. Return to a place, time,
situation, activity, conversation topic (90%)
He washed the dishes and went back to
his room.
6. FIND OUT
1. Discover STH; obtain knowledge of
STH (100%)
We need to find out who did this to
her.
7. COME OUT
1. Leave a place (room, building,
container) or appear from it (38%)
She went into the bank and came out
with some money.
2. Become known or revealed after
being kept secret (13.5%)
The news came out that he was leaving
the team.
3. (Come out and do STH) Make public knowledge
a privately held position (11.5%)
People need to come out and say what
they think about it.
4. Become available or released to
the public (film, record, book) (10%)
Their new album is coming out next
month.
8. GO OUT
1. Leave a room, building, car, or
one’s home to go to a social event (56.5%)
We should go out for dinner sometime.
2. (Go out and do STH) Used as an
intensifier, to highlight the active nature of what is being done (19.5%)
Do you think he’ll go out and buy the
whole company?
9. POINT OUT
1. Direct attention toward STH (fact,
idea, information) (89%)
Experts have pointed out that eating
too much sugar is extremely unhealthy.
10. GROW UP
1. Gradually advance in age and
maturity (98%)
Seeing my kids growing up is such a
lovely thing.
11. SET UP
1. Establish or create STH; arrange
for STH to happen or exist (64.5%)
An advisory committee is being set
up.
2. Place STH in a particular spot or
position (16.5%)
We need to set up a few more chairs
so everyone can sit down.
12. TURN OUT
1. Prove or be discovered to happen
or be (91%)
Her suspicion turned out to be
justified.
13. GET OUT
1. Leave a container (vehicle, room,
building) or make SB/STH leave a container (75.5%)
These prisoners have no hope of ever
getting out of jail.
14. COME IN
1. Enter a place or area (room,
building) (65%)
She opened the door and he came in.
2. Become involved in a situation
(14%)
We need experts to come in and give
us advice.
15. TAKE ON
1. Undertake or handle (role, task,
responsibility, problem, issue) (42%)
Nobody was willing to take on such an
awful job.
2. Acquire or assume as one’s own
(quality, meaning, colour, shape) (41.5%)
The story takes on a whole new
meaning when you read it again.
16. GIVE UP
1. Stop doing or having STH; abandon
(activity, belief, possession) (80.5%)
She had to give up smoking when she
got pregnant.
17. MAKE UP
1. Form the whole of an amount or
entity (42.5%)
Hispanics make up more than 15% of
the U.S. population.
2. (+ for) Compensate for STH
lacking, lost or missed (18.5%)
Some solution has to be found to make
up for such losses.
3. (Make up one’s mind) Make a
decision (15.5%)
You should make up your mind about
who you will vote for.
18. END UP
1. Finally do STH or be in a
particular place, state, or situation after doing STH or as a consequence of
it, esp. unexpectedly (100%)
She ended up having to sell her car
after her accident.
19. GET BACK
1. Return to a place, position,
state, activity, conversation topic (78.5%)
She got back to London last Monday.
20. LOOK UP
1. Raise one’s eyes (88%)
He looked up from his book and shook
his head.
21. FIGURE OUT
1. Come to understand or determine
STH (100%)
Despite her efforts, she couldn’t
figure out what had happened.
22. SIT DOWN
1. Move from a standing position to a
sitting position (100%)
Please sit down and have a drink.
23. GET UP
1. Rise or cause to rise after lying
in bed or sitting/kneeling (92%)
She got up out of her chair and put on
her shoes.
24. TAKE OUT
1. Remove STH/SB from somewhere
(container or abstract whole) (50.5%)
He tore open the envelope and took
out a few bills.
2. Invite to a recreational place or
social event (13.5%)
You should take her out to this new
Chinese restaurant.
3. Obtain an official document or
service from an authority (12.5%)
I had to take out a loan to cover all
my expenses.
25. COME ON
1. Said to encourage SB to try
harder, or do or say STH (50%)
Come on, don’t be shy and tell us
your story.
2. Said to show SB disbelief,
disagreement, or anger (19.5%)
Oh come on, you're just lying to me!
26. GO DOWN
1. Move down to a lower level or
position (29%)
After hitting the iceberg, the ship
began to go down.
2. Decrease in value or amount (27%)
I don’t think prices will go down.
3. Go from one place to another, esp.
one that is further south or underneath (18%)
We went down to Australia last year.
27. SHOW UP
1. Make an appearance at a social or
professional gathering (81%)
She didn’t show up at the meeting.
28. TAKE OFF
1. Remove STH (esp. piece of clothing
or jewellery from one’s body) (41%)
I took off my shirt and went to bed.
2. Leave a place, especially suddenly
(28.5%)
They jumped into the car and took
off.
3. Leave the ground and rise into the
air (14%)
The plane took off at 7am.
29.WORK OUT
1. Plan, devise or think about STH
carefully or in detail (33%)
We still need to work out the details
of the procedure.
2. Exercise in order to improve
health or strength (23%)
He works out at the gym five times a
week.
3. (+ well/badly) Happen or develop
in a particular way (15%)
Everything worked out well in the
end.
4. Prove to be successful (12.5%)
Despite our efforts, it just didn’t
work out.
30. STAND UP
1. Rise to a standing position after
sitting or lying down (67.5%)
He pushed away from the table and
stood up.
2. (Stand up and say STH) Make public
knowledge a privately held position (11%)
Somebody’s got to stand up and say
what’s wrong with this country.
31. COME DOWN
1. Move from a higher spatial
location to a lower one; fall/land onto the ground (32.5%)
Come down from the roof or you will
hurt yourself.
2. (+ to) Reduce itself to one
particular thing that is the most important or essential matter (20.5%)
What it all comes down to is that the
rules have not been respected.
3. Become lower in amount or value
(11%)
Interest rates are currently coming
down.
32. GO AHEAD
1. Proceed with a course of action
without further hesitation (99%)
Go ahead and ask me your question!
33. GO UP
1. Become higher in value; increase
(47.5%)
Oil prices have gone up last year.
2. Move upward, or from a lower
spatial location to a higher one (20.5%)
He could see a few hands go up in the
audience.
34. LOOK BACK
1. Think of STH again; reconsider STH
past (49.5%)
Looking back on those days, we had a
very happy life.
2. Look at STH/SB again after having
momentarily looked elsewhere (30%)
He closed the dictionary and looked
back to his notes.
35.WAKE UP
1. Become (or make SB become)
conscious again after being asleep (92%)
I was so tired that I woke up at 10
this morning.
36. CARRY OUT
1. Perform or complete (task,
activity, study, experiment, attack, duties, etc) (63.5%)
The experiment was carried out by a
well-known academic.
2. Put into execution; implement
(plan, idea, wishes, orders, views, etc) (34%)
Economic reform will soon be carried
out.
37. TAKE OVER
1. Gain control, management, or
possession of STH/SB (task, job, political party, organisation) (96.5%)
After her father died, she took over
the company.
38. HOLD UP
1. Hold STH in a high position (e.g.
above one’s waist or head), so it can be seen or reached (54%)
The professor held up the picture so
everyone could see it.
2. Remain strong or in a fairly good
condition after a bad period or the wear of time (person, business, device)
(14%)
These are really old shoes but
they’re holding up quite well.
3. Delay or prevent the progression
of STH/SB (11.5%)
We were held up by heavy traffic.
39. PULL OUT
1. Take STH/SB out of a container,
thing or place (75%)
He reached in his pocket and pulled
out a gun.
40. TURN AROUND
1. Move so as to face in the opposite
direction (67.5%)
She turned around and walked out the
door.
2. Make STH become better or more
successful than it previously was (economy, business) (24.5%)
People have stopped believing the
President could turn around the economy.
41. TAKE UP
1. Use a particular amount of space,
time or effort (25.5%)
The rewriting of the document took up
a whole afternoon.
2. Discuss or deal with (issue, idea,
matter) (17.5%)
The Senate will take up the issue
tomorrow.
3. Start doing a particular job or
activity, esp. for pleasure (10.5%)
He took up gardening last year.
4. Grasp an object, often moving it
from a lower to a higher position (10%)
I have to take up the carpet before I
start hoovering.
42. LOOK DOWN
1. Lower one’s eyes to see what is
below (92%)
She looked down at the ground to see
what she stepped on.
43. PUT UP
1. Display or attach STH (e.g. to a
wall) so it can be seen (23%)
They put up a few posters on the
wall.
2. (+ with) Be willing to accept STH
unpleasant or not desirable; tolerate (19%)
I won’t put up with your bad
behaviour for much longer.
3. Build or place STH somewhere (18%)
They’re putting up a new fence after
the previous one fell apart.
44. BRING BACK
1. Make STH/SB return to a place,
state, situation, or conversation topic (52.5%)
This will bring back war into the
country.
2. Bring STH one has taken from a
place they come from (22.5%)
This is the hat he brought back from
South America.
45. BRING UP
1. Raise for discussion or
consideration (59.5%)
I didn’t think he would bring up the
subject.
2. Care for/be responsible for a
child until it becomes an adult (17.5%)
She brought up her children under
very difficult circumstances.
46. LOOK OUT
1. Look outside, or at the horizon
(50.5%)
She liked to go by the window and
look out at the garden.
2. Take care of SB and make sure they
are well; protect SB’s interests (25.5%)
We look out for each other as if we
were family.
47. BRING IN
1. Bring STH to a place or situation
(52%)
I brought in my laptop computer today
because my office computer is broken.
2. Ask SB to do a particular job or
task (30.5%)
He had been brought in to save the
company.
48. OPEN UP
1. Make STH become available or
possible, less limited (42.5%)
This opened up opportunities he would
never have imagined.
2. Open STH (door, gate, book, bag)
(27.5%)
She opened up the bag and grabbed
some documents.
49. CHECK OUT
1. Have a look at; examine STH/SB
(esp. to get more information or make a judgement) (97%)
Check out our website for more
information.
50. MOVE ON
1. Start doing or discussing STH new
(job, activity, conversation topic) (42%)
Let’s move on to our next topic.
2. Change physical location (spot,
room, country) (28%)
She lived in New York, then London,
and finally moved on to Rome.
3. Forget about a difficult experience
and move forward mentally/emotionally (25%)
He’s had a difficult year but he’s
now ready to move on.
51. PUT OUT
1. Make STH known or accessible to
the public (information, products) (47%)
Police have put out a warning about
thieves in the area.
2. Stop STH from burning or shining
(14%)
The fire has finally been put out.
3. Place STH somewhere in order for
it to be seen or used (10%)
I’ve put out some glasses and a
bottle of wine.
52. LOOK AROUND
1. Examine a place or one’s
surroundings so as to view what it might contain or look for a particular thing
(100%)
They entered the shop and looked
around but nobody was there.
53. CATCH UP
1. (Be/Get caught up) Become involved
in STH which prevents SB from making progress or moving forward (26%)
He is very busy and always caught up
in his work.
2. Reach SB that is ahead by walking,
running, or driving faster (18%)
She was running so fast that it was
impossible to catch up with her.
3. Reach the same level or standard
as SB who is more advanced (14%)
They made considerable improvements,
which makes it hard for us to catch up.
54. GO IN
1. Enter (place, area, room,
building) (90%)
This restaurant looks really nice;
let’s go in and have lunch.
55. BREAK DOWN
1. Stop working or functioning; fail
or collapse (vehicle, device, relationship, negotiations) (24%)
Our car broke down yesterday.
2. Divide or separate into categories
or smaller components so as to make it easier to understand or deal with (20%)
Let’s break down the task into three
easy steps.
3. Lose control of one’s emotions and
yield to tears or distress (17.5%)
He broke down at his son’s funeral.
4. Undergo chemical decomposition;
separate into different substances (13.5%)
Digestion breaks down food into small
molecules.
56. GET OFF
1. Go away from, leave (train, bus,
aircraft, lift) (54%)
You need to take the bus and get off
at the third stop.
2. (Get off to a ... start) Begin
something in a certain way (12.5%)
The team has got off to a good start
this season.
3. Manage to avoid serious trouble or
consequences (esp. legal punishment) (12%)
It’s not right that he could commit
such a crime and get off so easily.
57. KEEP UP
1. Move, progress or increase at the same
rate or pace as SB/STH (46%)
Workers’ income has not kept up with
inflation.
2. Make STH continue (32.5%)
This is amazing; keep up the good
work!
58. PUT DOWN
1. Place STH/SB on the floor or on a
flat surface (62%)
She put down her glass and left the
bar.
59. REACH OUT
1. Stretch an arm in order to hold,
touch, or get STH that is within short distance (48.5%)
She reached out for the empty jar on
the table.
2. Make an effort to address or
communicate with SB, so as to help them or involve them in STH (39.5%)
The government’s efforts to reach out
to right-wing voters have paid off.
60. GO OFF
1. Go somewhere, esp. for a
particular purpose (44.5%)
He decided to go off to college.
2. Emit a loud noise or sudden light
as a signal or warning (22%)
Let’s hope the alarm doesn’t go off.
3. Explode (bomb) or be fired (gun)
(14%)
They could hear bombs going off at a
distance.
61. CUT OFF
1. Remove a part of STH by cutting it
(27%)
Take the carrots and cut the ends
off.
2. Interrupt SB as they are speaking
(24.5%)
The teacher cut off the student in
the middle of her sentence.
3. End the provision of STH, or be
deprived of a provision (supply, money) (23.5%)
The government decided to cut off
food supplies.
62. TURN BACK
1. Turn around so as to face the
opposite direction (51.5%)
Before leaving through the door, he
turned back to kiss her goodbye.
2. Go back (or make SB/STH go back)
in the direction SB/STH has come from (25.5%)
When the storm hit, we had to turn
back.
63. PULL UP
1. Stop or cause a vehicle to stop
(47%)
A van pulled up in front of them.
2. Move STH/SB from a lower position
to a higher one; lift from the ground (35.5%)
She pulled up her scarf to cover her
cold face.
64. SET OUT
1. Start doing or working on STH,
esp. with a particular goal in mind (42.5%)
I set out to discover the truth
behind the story.
2. Start a journey (26.5%)
We set out for San Francisco on the
following day.
3. Explain or present STH clearly,
esp. officially and in writing (16%)
The official recommendations were set
out in the document.
65. CLEAN UP
1. Get rid of dirt, mess, pollution,
or chemical substances in a place or area (74%)
Make sure you clean up your mess
because I won’t do it for you.
2. Make STH free from dangerous,
unacceptable or controversial activities or contents (22%)
He was asked to clean up his bad
language during his interview.
66. SHUT DOWN
1. Stop (or make STH stop) working or
operating (machine, computer, business, premise, strategy) (94%)
You should shut down your computer at
night to save electricity.
67. TURN OVER
1. Surrender possession or control to
SB/STH (esp. in authority) (59.5%)
The policeman turned over the
criminal to the jail guard.
2. Change position so that the other
side is facing towards the outside or the top, or another direction (34%)
Put the chicken on the grill and turn
it over a few times.
68. SLOW DOWN
1. Move, proceed or progress at a
slower pace (vehicle, economy) (88.5%)
Economic growth has dramatically
slowed down.
69.WIND UP
1. End up in a particular situation,
condition or place, esp. an unpleasant one (87%)
They wound up having to pay off his
debts.
70. TURN UP
1. Yield; be (or make STH be) found,
discovered, or noticed (48%)
The search turned up solid evidence
against him.
2. Increase the volume or level of
STH (21.5%)
I really like this song; could you
turn up the radio?
3. Arrive or make an appearance
somewhere (14%)
He turned up to the meeting half an
hour late.
71. LINE UP
1. Form or make SB/STH form into a
line (also figurative) (75%)
Dozens of taxis were lined up at the
entrance.
72. TAKE BACK
1. Take STH/SB to a place, or time
period (fig.), they were in before (50%)
After dinner, he took her back to her
house.
2. Regain possession or control over
STH (33.5%)
The politician’s ultimate goal is to
take back the Senate.
73. LAY OUT
1. Describe or explain STH clearly or
in detail, esp. officially and in writing (46%)
The whole strategy was laid out in
detail in a twenty-page document.
2. Spread STH out on a flat surface,
so it can be seen or used (35%)
He laid out the plates on the table.
74. GO OVER
1. Move towards a place or person,
esp. by crossing an area (room, city, country) (63%)
She went over to the window so she
could watch the scene.
2. Examine or discuss each part of
STH in detail in order to understand or remember it better, or make sure it is
correct (20%)
We need to go over the list once
again.
75. HANG UP
1. Finish a conversation on the
telephone by putting the receiver down or switching the phone off (76.5%)
He hung up the phone without letting
her answer his question.
76. GO THROUGH
1. Experience STH difficult or
unpleasant (61%)
You have to understand the tough
situation she went through before judging her.
2. Be officially accepted or approved
(10%)
I hope the tax cut goes through next
year.
77. HOLD ON
1. Refuse to let go of STH (57%)
He held on to his job until the very
last day.
2. Wait for a short time (35.5%)
I’ll be quick, please hold on for one
minute.
78. PAY OFF
1. Pay the complete amount of STH
(49%)
It will take a dozen years for him to
pay off his debts.
2. Pay back the effort spent in doing
STH by becoming profitable or effective (48.5%)
All the hard work will pay off in the
end.
79. HOLD OUT
1. Move one’s hand or an object in
one’s hand forward or towards SB, in order to grab or give STH (61%)
He took the keys and held them out to
her.
2. Hold STH as likely to happen or
succeed (hope, possibility, prospect, promise) (15%)
We don’t hold out much hope of
finding the murderer.
80. BREAK UP
1. End or cause to end or fail (esp.
relationship) (59%)
Their marriage broke up in 2007.
2. Divide into smaller parts or
components (34.5%)
The USSR broke up into more than 10
countries.
81. BRING OUT
1. Make a particular detail, quality
or feeling more noticeable than it usually is (36%)
This haircut brings out the natural
curl in your hair.
2. Make SB or STH available for the
public or an audience to see, know or buy (33%)
The band was about to bring out their
new album.
3. Take STH/SB out of a container or
enclosed space (27%)
They brought out another plate from
the kitchen.
82. PULL BACK
1. Move backwards or make SB/STH move
backwards (66.5%)
She pulled back the hair from her
face.
2. Withdraw or retreat from an
activity or location, esp. military (31%)
The army was forced to pull back due
to bad weather.
83. HANG ON
1. Wait for a short time (41.5%)
Please hang on for a minute, I’ll be
quick.
2. Refuse to let go of STH (35.5%)
He hung on to his job until the very
last day.
84. BUILD UP
1. Increase or cause STH to increase,
accumulate, or strengthen, especially progressively (76%)
Tension was building up among
competitors.
85. THROW OUT
1. Refuse to accept or consider (esp.
by people of authority) (29%)
The president attempted to have the
death penalty thrown out.
2. Put STH in a rubbish bin (25.5%)
He threw out a dozen empty boxes that
were piled up in the room.
3. Make SB leave a place, activity or
organization, esp. forcibly and unexpectedly (21%)
Several students were caught cheating
and subsequently thrown out of school.
86. HANG OUT
1. Spend time relaxing or enjoying
oneself (84%)
I don't like to hang out with people
I work with.
87. PUT ON
1. Put a piece of clothing or
jewellery onto one’s body (52%)
You should put on your gloves, it’s
really cold outside.
2. Present or stage (play, show,
competition) (14.5%)
They put on such an incredible show
last night!
88. GET DOWN
1. (+ to) Begin to pay serious
attention to STH (26%)
We should get down to discussing
those issues as soon as possible.
2. Lower one’s body as by kneeling,
sitting or lying (22.5%)
Get down on your knees so you can get
a better view.
3. Come down from STH; descend (car,
horse, tree) (17.5%)
He loves climbing trees but finds it
hard to get down.
89. COME OVER
1. Come to a place or area (spot,
room, town, country), esp. towards SB or to join SB (95%)
Could you come over and give me a
hand with this?
90. MOVE IN
1. Settle into a new house or place
(62.5%)
He liked the house so much that he
decided to move in immediately.
2. Go towards SB/STH, esp. to attack
or take control of them (34%)
The assault was led by Lieutenant
Jones, moving in from behind the hill.
91. START OUT
1. Start a life, existence,
profession, or course of action in a particular way or by doing a particular
thing (95%)
She started out as a shop assistant
and gradually climbed the employment ladder.
92. CALL OUT
1. Speak or utter loudly (79%)
He could hear a voice call out his
name.
93. SIT UP
1. Rise from a lying to a sitting
position (93.5%)
The sudden noise made her sit up in
her bed and listen.
94. TURN DOWN
1. Refuse or dismiss (request, offer,
opportunity) (82.5%)
This is an opportunity you would be
foolish to turn down.
95. BACK UP
1. Move or drive backwards a short
way (26%)
He got into his car and backed up out
of the alley.
2. Take action in order to support
STH or make it happen (21%)
Politicians often fail to back up
their words with actions.
3. Establish as valid or genuine
(20.5%)
You have to back up your accusations
with solid evidence.
96. PUT BACK
1. Move STH/SB to a place, position,
or state they were in before (85.5%)
Could you put the milk back in the
fridge please?
97. SEND OUT
1. Mail, send or distribute to a
number of people (57%)
Hundreds of copies were sent out to
the local population.
2. Send SB to a place for a
particular purpose (32.5%)
Military troops were sent out to
secure the region.
98. GET IN
1. Go (or make STH/SB go) inside a
place (car, house, room) (65.5%)
The new security lock prevents
thieves from getting in.
2. (+ on) Get involved in an exciting
or profitable activity/opportunity (12.5%)
You should get in on the act!
99. BLOW UP
1. Explode or destroy STH with a
bomb, or cause to be exploded or destroyed (75.5%)
Several attempts were made at blowing
up official buildings.
100. CARRY ON
1. Continue to do or be involved with
STH, or make STH continue (especially despite difficulty) (66%)
I would like to carry on working
after I retire.
2. Engage or take part in (15%)
His illness makes it difficult for
him to carry on conversations.
101. SET OFF
1. Start on a trip or journey (30.5%)
We will finish packing and set off in
the morning.
2. Cause a device to explode, or a
signal to start, esp. by accident (27.5%)
He accidentally set off my car alarm.
3. Make STH happen or emerge, esp.
without intending to (25.5%)
Employees started to protest, setting
off a dispute over workers’ rights.
102. KEEP ON
1. Continue doing STH without
stopping, or repeatedly (92.5%)
She wiped tears off her cheeks but
kept on crying.
103. RUN OUT
1. (+ of) Use STH (or become used)
completely so that nothing is left (49.5%)
We’ve run out of biscuits.
2. Leave suddenly, as if in a hurry
(34%)
After the argument, she ran out into
the garden and screamed.
104. MAKE OUT
1. See or hear with difficulty
(60.5%)
I could barely make out his face in
the dark.
2. Represent as being a particular
way, esp. falsely (11%)
He was innocent, but the media made
him out to be a criminal.
3. (Make it out) Deal with a
difficult situation successfully (10.5%)
We were lucky to make it out of the
war alive.
105. SHUT UP
1. Stop (or make SB/STH stop) talking
or making a noise (97%)
Just sit down and shut up!
106. TURN OFF
1. Stop a piece of equipment working
temporarily or a supply flowing by turning a tap, pressing a button, or moving
a switch (69.5%)
People were asked to turn off their
phones.
2. Cause to feel intense dislike
(20.5%)
His speech turned off left-wing
voters.
107. BRING ABOUT
1. Cause to happen or emerge, esp.
STH positive (100%)
This decision will bring about change
in the political sphere.
108. STEP BACK
1. Move back by lifting one’s foot
and putting it down backwards (72%)
He stepped back when the big man
threatened him.
2. Stop being involved in STH so as
to consider it more carefully/objectively (22.5%)
We need to step back and take a
broader perspective on the past events.
109. LAY DOWN
1. Put STH away or down on a surface,
esp. because one has stopped using it (31%)
I laid down my book and stood up.
2. Lie flat on a surface, usually to
rest (28%)
He laid the child down on the bed and
wished her good night.
3. Lay the foundations of; establish
or create (17%)
The principles of good conduct were
laid down decades ago.
110. BRING DOWN
1. Cause SB/STH to move downward or
fall to the ground (32.5%)
The rocket attack brought down the
airliner.
2. Reduce the level, rate, or amount
of STH (26%)
The company’s expenses need to be
brought down.
3. Cause SB/STH in a position of
power (government, president, system, organisation) to lose its power/status
(25%)
They helped bring down one of the
most corrupt dictatorships in history.
111. STAND OUT
1. Distinguish oneself/itself by
being better, more significant or more impressive than other people/things
(60.5%)
Excellent product quality is what
made the brand stand out from its competitors.
2. Be easily seen or noticeable (38%)
Flashing lights make planes stand out
at night.
112. COME ALONG
1. Appear or arrive; come into
existence (72.5%)
Such an opportunity comes along only
once in a lifetime.
2. Go somewhere with SB (20.5%)
We’re going to the cinema tonight;
you should come along with us!
113. PLAY OUT
1. Happen or develop; be enacted or
performed (79.5%)
The way these negotiations play out
will have important consequences.
114. BREAK OUT
1. Start suddenly, esp. STH
undesirable and unpleasant (69.5%)
Riots broke out that night.
115. GO AROUND
1. Go from one place/person to
another; circulate (76%)
There is a rumour going around that
she is pregnant.
116. WALK OUT
1. Leave a place or event, especially
suddenly or angrily (81.5%)
She walked out of the meeting feeling
irritated by her colleagues.
117. GET THROUGH
1. (+ to) Succeed in reaching a
physical destination or stage (27%)
The food supplies never got through
to the local population.
2. Be successfully communicated or
understood (22.5%)
He needed to speak slowly and clearly
so his message would get through to the audience.
3. Succeed in contacting SB on the
telephone (20.5%)
I cannot seem to get through to the
customer service department.
4. Overcome STH, esp. difficult or
unpleasant (14.5%)
He gave me useful advice, which
helped me get through this difficult situation.
118. HOLD BACK
1. Decide not to do or say STH
(23.5%)
They should not hold back from
joining us if they want to.
2. Prevent SB/STH from reaching their
full potential (21%)
You cannot let a few unmotivated
pupils hold back the rest of the group.
3. Prevent SB/STH from going
somewhere (17.5%)
Security guards tried to hold back
the crowd.
4. Contain an unwanted physical
manifestation (tears, laughter, sigh, sneeze) (16%)
She was holding back the laughter
with great effort.
119. WRITE DOWN
1. Record information on paper (98%)
You should write down his contact
details in case you want to get in touch.
120. MOVE BACK
1. Return to a place one has lived in
before (75%)
We moved back to New York last year.
121. FILL OUT
1. Complete a form or official
document (81.5 %)
We had to fill out a dozen forms in
total.
122. SIT BACK
1. Rest in a comfortable position
against the back of a seat (66%)
She sat back in her chair and turned
on the TV.
2. (Sit back and do STH) Deliberately
take no action/remain passive about STH (34%)
We won’t just sit back and watch the
situation getting worse and worse.
123. RULE OUT
1. Exclude STH as a possibility,
plausible cause or explanation (93.5%)
They ruled out the possibility of a
mass murder.
124. MOVE UP
1. Move to a better position; advance
to a higher level/rank (47%)
She moved up from secretary to senior
manager in just a few years.
2. Move upward, from a lower spatial
location to a higher one (22.5%)
She put her hand on his shoulder and
moved it up along the back of his neck.
125. PICK OUT
1. Choose SB/STH among a number of
alternatives (71.5%)
She picked out the best-looking dress
she could find.
2. Detect/be noticed among a group of
things or people (19%)
My mum could easily be picked out in
the picture.
126. TAKE DOWN
1. Remove STH that was previously put
up or put in place (38.5%)
After the exhibition, they took the
paintings down.
2. Destroy, kill, or disable (27.5%)
The terrorists tried to take down the
President's plane.
3. Take SB to a place, esp. further
south or at a lower level (18%)
My dad decided to take us down to
Florida.
127. GET ON
1. (+ with) Continue doing STH after
stopping (51%)
We might as well get on with it if we
want to finish on time.
2. Get on board some form of public
transportation (train, bus, plane, elevator) (14.5%)
He got on the bus to go to school.
128. GIVE BACK
1. Return STH to its original
owner/provider (100%)
It’s nice to be able to give back to
the community.
129. HAND OVER
1. Give STH to SB by holding it in
one’s hand and offering it to them (58.5%)
She turned around to hand over her
keys to her husband.
2. Surrender control or
responsibility for STH/SB to SB else, esp. officially (41.5%)
The government isn’t willing to hand
over power to local authorities.
130. SUM UP
1. Express or represent the most
important/representative facts, ideas, or characteristics of SB/STH, especially
in a brief manner (97%)
He summed up the whole discussion in
just a few minutes.
131. MOVE OUT
1. Leave one’s place of residence
permanently (94.5%)
Our neighbour is going to move out
next month.
132. COME OFF
1. Become detached or removed from a
larger whole (34%)
The button is coming off my shirt.
2. Appear or seem to be a particular
way (24.5%)
He was tired and not prepared, and so
came off poorly in the interview.
3. Be finished with STH; have
completed STH (17.5%)
The team just came off an incredibly
successful season.
133. PASS ON
1. Circulate or communicate; give STH
to SB after receiving it from SB else (information, ideas, object) (37.5%)
I got this message this morning and
was asked to pass it on to you.
2. Transmit from one generation to
the next (traditions, beliefs, skills, possessions) (37%)
These ancient traditions have been
passed on from generation to generation.
3. Die (euphemism) (12.5%)
She has been very depressed since her
mother passed on.
134. TAKE IN
1. Provide a place for SB to live or
stay (24.5%)
The family took her in when she was
abandoned by her parents.
2. Fully understand or grasp the
meaning of STH (17.5%)
You have to explain more thoroughly;
it’s too difficult to take in.
3. Deceive by behaving in a dishonest
way (10%)
He was very convincing, so I was
easily taken in.
135. SET DOWN
1. Put something on a surface or on
the ground (75%)
He carried the bags to his room and
set them down.
136. SORT OUT
1. Do what is needed to solve a
problem, conflict or difficult situation (51%)
A few ideas were raised to sort out
the company’s financial issues.
2. Find out information so as to
understand STH (25.5%)
He will need some time to sort out
the reasons for his failure.
137. FOLLOW UP
1. Take action about STH after a
previous action or thing, esp. so as to reinforce its effect (48.5%)
You won’t be cured immediately after
the operation; you will have to follow up with therapy.
2. Try to find more information about
STH (45.5%)
Detectives are following up on a few
promising leads.
138. COME THROUGH
1. Be clearly perceived, noticed or
seen (feeling, emotion, quality) (20.5%)
Her disappointment came through by
the tone of her voice.
2. Reach success or a desired goal
despite difficulty (20%)
He worked really hard, and despite
some difficulties, he came through in the
end.
3. Arrive at a destination; come into
view (train, ship) (10%)
We had to wait for a ship to come
through and rescue us.
139. SETTLE DOWN
1. Adopt a quieter and steadier
lifestyle (31%)
I just want to fall in love with the
right guy and settle down.
2. Become calmer, quieter, more
orderly (26.5%)
We need things to settle down before
we can make a serious decision.
3. Get into a comfortable position,
either sitting or lying (20%)
When he reached the top of the hill,
he settled down in the grass to have a rest.
140. COME AROUND
1. Come in the area near STH/SB (45%)
He came around to my room and kissed
me goodnight.
2. (+ to) Convert to an opinion or
decision (22%)
I believe she will come around to our
way of thinking eventually.
3. Happen again as a regular event,
at its usual time (10%)
You’ll have to wait until summer
comes around.
141. FILL IN
1. (+ for) Do SB’s work temporarily
because they cannot or will not do it themselves (31%)
I had to fill in for her yesterday
because she was ill.
2. (+ on) Give SB extra or missing
information they want or need (29.5%)
She filled Carol in on the plan.
3. Put material or substance into STH
in order to make it full or complete (19%)
All the remaining holes had to be
filled in with concrete.
142. GIVE OUT
1. Give to each of a large number of
people (40%)
The committee gave out more than 100
copies in the last meeting.
2. Make known openly or publicly
(33.5%)
You should be more careful and not
give out your phone number so easily.
3. Collapse/fail; stop functioning
properly (heart, knees) (11.5%)
At 95 years of age, her heart finally
gave out.
143. GIVE IN
1. Cease resistance to
(liking/temptation/habit, or to SB’s demands/control) (100%)
She shouldn’t give in to her
children’s demands.
144. GO ALONG
1. Progress or proceed with an
activity (44%)
You will learn as you go along.
2. Act in cooperation or express
agreement (28%)
The Democrats are not likely to go
along with the plan.
3. Go to a place or event, esp.
without much planning (15.5%)
Would you like to go along with us to
the party?
145. BREAK OFF
1. Separate a part (or become
separate) from a larger piece (40%)
He accidentally broke off a piece of
wood from the fence.
2. Stop speaking, especially suddenly
(28%)
“There is something that…” He broke
off abruptly.
3. Put an end to STH (relationship,
discussion, talks, negotiations) (24%)
They broke off diplomatic relations
in 1986.
146. PUT OFF
1. Delay until a later time or date
(68%)
Now that I had more free time, there
was no excuse to put off exercising any longer.
2. Cause to feel intense dislike
(27.5%)
The bad smell put everyone off.
147. COME ABOUT
1. Take place or happen/occur, esp.
unexpectedly (81.5%)
I did not expect this to come about.
148. CLOSE DOWN
1. Stop operating or functioning
(87%)
Non-profitable companies were closed
down.
149. PUT IN
1. Put one thing inside another;
include or insert (50%)
You need to put in your contact
details in case there is a problem.
2. Invest or devote so as to achieve
STH (time, effort, work) (26.5%)
I put in ten hours a day at the
office.
150. SET ABOUT
1. Begin a course of action, usually
with a specific purpose/objective in mind (97%)
We set about laying the table before
our guests arrived.
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