Scarica Phrasal verbs chart english e più Appunti in PDF di Lingua Inglese solo su Docsity!
Account for To give a satisfactory record/ explanation for
Can you account for your whereabouts on Monday evening?
Allow for To make provision for, take into consideration
You will have to allow for a certain amount of error.
Answer back To answer in an impudent manner Angela’s very bad mannered, she always answers back. Ask after To enquire about I saw Robert yesterday and he asked after you.
Back down To withdraw an assertion in face of opposition
The government backed down after the trade union threatened to strike.
Bargain for To expect We hadn’t bargained for such a good turnout. Be about to Be after Be against Be back Be for Be/go off Be on Be over Be put out Be up Be up to
To be close to doing something soon To be in pursuit of (negative connotation) To be opposed to To return To be in favour of To be sour/stale/rancid To be broadcasted/shown/projected To be finished (an activity/situation) To be annoyed/upset To be awake/not in bed To be the responsibility of To be capable of doing something To do something bad. (cf get up to )
The lesson was about to start when the door burst open. You’d better watch out, John’ s after your job. I am against eating meat. I’ll be back soon. I’ m (all) for staying in tonight. / This meat has been in the fridge for a week, it’ s definitely off now. Hurry up, CSI is on now! The lesson’ s over , you can go now. I was a bit put out when you told me you wouldn’t come after all. You’re too young to be up at midnight! It’ s up to you to wash the dishes tonight. He resigned from his job after two weeks, he was just not up to it. The children are too quiet, I wonder what they are up to.
Bear out To support or confirm This assumption is not borne out by any evidence.
Break down
Break off
Break out Break up
To cease to function To cease to function, continue (of relationship/agreement/process To lose control of one’s emotions To fail or collapse (health) To abruptly stop talking To discontinue talks or relations To start suddenly To disintegrate To part (a couple in a relationship) To disband, end To end the school term
Ron’s car broke down on the motorway. Negotiations at the UN broke down. Meg and Steve were incompatible. Their marriage soon broke down. Barbara broke down after she heard the news. His health broke down after he started working in the mines. He broke off to go and answer the phone. The EU broke off talks with Russia. A row broke out in the canteen. Fire broke out in the engine room. The clouds broke up and the sun shone. Kathy and David have broken up. The party broke up and we all went home. We break up for the summer holidays on July 15 th.
Bring about
Bring on
To cause, make happen
To cause something unpleasant to
The fall of a comet may have brought about the extinction of the dinosaurs. Obesity is brought on by a rich diet and little exercise. Richard finally brought his father round to his way of thinking.
Bring round
Bring up
occur To persuade To return to consciousness (cf to come round) To rear; care for until fully grown To raise a matter for discussion
They brought her round by slapping her on her face. Janet faints every time she sees blood but luckily she comes round soon. Jock was brought up in Scotland. I’d like to bring up the problem of students’ study rooms.
Call for
Call off Call on
To pick up someone or something (from home) To cancel an event or agreement To pay a visit
I’ll call for you at 7.30. Someone will call for the document this afternoon. The party was called off. I might call on her later.
Care about Care for
To feel concern or interest To look after To like / be willing to do something
They don’t care about human life. He cares for his aged mother. I don’t care much for coffee.
Carry on Carry out
To continue To perform a task
Carry on with what you were doing, don’t let me interrupt you. They are carrying out a market research survey.
Catch on Catch up with
To become popular To reach the same position/level as someone/something else To contact someone to get their news
High heels have really caught on. “Come on, you’re not keeping up with me.” “You run on ahead, I’ll catch up with you later.” I hardly ever get the chance to catch up with old friends.
Clear up To become cured To become brighter (weather) To tidy up To solve, find an answer to
My rash has cleared up. I hope it clears up , I’m sick of all this rain. You’d better clear up your room. We’ve cleared up the problem, you can go back into the house now.
Close down To cause to cease a business/shop, etc The shop closed down after 50 years of operations. Come across Come over
Come into Come out Come round
To come round/to
To come round to
Come up Come up against Come up to
Come up with
To meet by chance To come and visit To approach To inherit money or property To be released or published To come and visit
To recover consciousness (cf to bring round) To be converted to someone else’s opinion To appear or happen unexpectedly To meet with a difficulty To reach the same level of expectation, standard Think of, invent
I came across Gwyneth yesterday, I hadn’t seen her for ages. I’m coming over tonight to see your new puppy. He came over to me and asked if he could help with my suitcases. Paris Hilton will come into a lot of money one day. Adele’s new CD is coming out next week. Come round tonight and I’ll show you my new puppy. (Cf: I went round to Sandra’s yesterday and she showed me her new puppy). Janet faints every time she sees blood but luckily she comes round soon. They brought her round by slapping her on her face. After much persuasion, he finally came round to my point of view. Something has come up , I’ll have to cancel the meeting. I’ve come up against a problem. The film didn’t come up to expectations.
Haven’t you come up with an idea yet?
Count on To rely on You can count on me any time.
Do away with
Do up
Do with
Do without
To remove, abolish To kill (colloquial) To fasten To renovate/decorate To find something useful or would like to have or do To manage without Would prefer not to have
Many restrictions on imports have been done away with. Bluebeard did away with all his wives. Your laces are undone, you should do them up or you’ll trip. I’m going to do up the front of the house. I could do with a cup of tea!
I can’t do without my early morning coffee. I can do without your comments, thank you! Draw up To come to a stop To prepare a document
The drivers drew up at the traffic lights. They instructed their lawyer to draw up an agreement.
Drop in (on)
Drop off
To pay a visit without prior arrangement
To fall asleep To decrease, fall, dwindle
Drop in whenever you’re in the area. I dropped in on my neighbours on my way home. I was watching TV in the afternoon and suddenly dropped off. Profits dropped off after the new tax laws were introduced.
End up To finish in a certain way or place We ended up having to do the cleaning ourselves. We lost our way and ended up in a forest.
Face up to To confront and deal with We have to face up to reality. Fall out (with) Fall through
To have an argument To fail, come to nothing
John has fallen out with his family over the will. The plan to set up a new English course fell through.
Feel up to Have the strength or energy to deal with
I’m too tired. I don’t feel up to doing my homework tonight.
Fill in/out To write information in a form Please fill in/out your application form to the university.
Fix someone up with To provide, supply, get All skiers will be fixed up with boots and skiis.
Get along/on with Get at
Get away with Get down Get down to Get off Get off (with)
Get on
Get on with Get out Get out of
Get over
Get it over with
Get round/around to Get round Get to Get together with Get through
Get up to
To have a good relationship with To manage to live/survive To imply, suggest, insinuate To access, reach To escape blame/punishment To depress or demoralize To begin to do, give serious attention to To stop working To escape punishment To make progress
To continue with To become known (secret) To contrive to avoid or escape (duty/ responsibility) To recover from (an illness or upsetting situation) To be surprised To complete an unpleasant task
To deal with, manage to do To persuade (with flattery) To arrive To gather, meet socially To overcome a difficult experience/ period/exam To make contact by telephone To use up/deplete/exhaust To succeed in communicating/make someone understand To do something bad (cf be up to )
I get along/on really well with my new boss. Don’t worry, we’ll get along/on without you. I really don’t understand what you’re getting at. It’s difficult to get at the gas tap behind the oven. He’s such a smooth talker, he could get away with murder! The economic situation is really getting me down. It’s time you got down to some hard work. I usually get off at 5.30. The burglar got off with a warning from the judge. How are you getting on? – Jim is getting on well in his new job. Get on with your work and stop talking! News got out that George Clooney was getting married. You promised to pay me back, so you can’t get out of it now!
Sam still hasn’t got over her cold.
I couldn’t get over how young she looked. We have to learn all these phrasal verbs off by heart. Let’s get it over with then! I haven’t got round to putting the shopping away yet. Sandy new how to get round her grandparents. We got to the hotel at midnight Let’s get together and go and play tennis. I need extra tutoring to get through my English exam.
I can’t get through to my mother, her line’s always busy. I got through all my month’s salary in one week! Try as I might, I just can’t get through to her!
The children are too quiet, they are (getting) up to something!
Give away
Give in Give up
To betray, reveal a secret To accompany the bride into the church
To surrender; to yield To stop doing something one usually does To cease making an effort / resign oneself to failure To give oneself up, surrender
My sister asked me not to give away her secret. Mary’s brother gave her away.
The Government gave in to the trade union’s demands. I’ve given up playing Golf. I give up , I’ll never get to the top of the mountain, I’m just not fit enough.
The burglar decided to give himself up when he heard the police
Have someone on
feelings To make believe something that is untrue
her.
I don’t believe you, you’re having me on.
Hold on Hold up
To wait To rob someone using threat of force To delay or block the progress of someone or something To expose someone as an example or for a particular treatment
Hold on , I’ll be right back! A masked gunman held up the post office. The flight was held up for 4 hours. Mark was held up in traffic. The BBC was held up as a pillar of objectivity. The prime minister was held up to ridicule after all the gaffes he made.
Join in To take part in, contribute to I joined in the conversation.
Jump at To accept an offer/opportunity eagerly When the university offered me a job, I jumped at it!
Keep going
Keep down Keep in Keep off Keep out of Keep on Keep up (with)
To continue to move/act
To reduce To keep inside, not let out To keep away from (not use) To not get mixed up To continue to do something To move at the same speed To continue
The doctor told him to stop but he just kept going , and then he had a heart attack. Keep going , don’t stop now, you’re nearly there! We must keep costs down or we’ll go bankrupt My mother kept me in all day because I hadn’t done my homework. I was told to keep off penicillin as I was allergic to it. He told me to keep out of the discussion and mind my own business. Let’s keep on working until 6 o’clock, shall we? Slow down, I can’t keep up with you. Well done! Keep up with the good work!
Knock out To make unconscious (with blow on the head) To astonish or impress
The vase fell on my head and I was knocked out.
I was knocked out by the great news!
Lay down (the law) Lay off
Lay up*
To issue instructions in an authoritative or dogmatic way To discharge a worker temporarily because of lack of work To take a ship or other vehicle out of service.
The company has laid down strict procedures. My boss is very dictatorial. He’s always laying down the law! Many people have been laid off because of the crisis.
The ship was laid up in dock with engine trouble.
Lead up to* To result in/conduct to/prepare the way/ get round to
He did not give away his climax; he led up to it by degrees as slow as his audience would permit.
Leave out To not include Let’s leave out this part, it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the text. Let down Let in on Let on
To disappoint, fail to support To allow someone to know a secret To reveal information
Brenda promised to help me, but she let me down at the last minute. Tina’s let me in on all the latest gossip. Don’t let on that I told you!
Live on
Live up to
To have money with which to buy food and other necessities To fulfil expectations
They live on a very meagre pension.
The film didn’t live up to our expectations.
Look after Look ahead
Look back (Never look back)
Look down on Look for Look forward to
Look in (on) Look into Look on
Look out! Look out onto/over Look through
Look up
Look up to Look someone up and down
To take care of To think of the future
To think of the past To continue being successful after having done something (never regret) To feel superior To search for To eagerly await
To pop in, to go/come round, to visit To examine (a problem/situation) To consider To watch without becoming involved Beware! To have a view in a specific direction To examine To pretend not to see
To search for information To visit, to contact To improve / get better To have a great deal of respect for To scrutinize someone carefully
My husband’s looking after the children while I’m shopping. You must look ahead and think about your future and not live from day to day There’s no point in looking back , what’s done is done! He opened a restaurant on a Caribbean island and since then he’s never looked back. Our next-door neighbours are snobs, they look down on everybody. I’m looking for a new house. I’m looking forward to my summer holidays. (business letter): We look forward to hearing from you soon. Look in on me next time you’re in the neighbourhood. I’ll look into the matter and let you know. We look on Patrick as our own son. The children looked on while Luke was shovelling the snow in the garden. Look out! You’re going to slip on the ice! Our room looked out onto the sea. Look through this catalogue, you might find something you like. After our row, Mary looks right/straight through me when we pass in the street. Look this verb up in the dictionary. Look me up when you next come to Milan. Things seem to be looking up at last. I’ve always looked up to my uncle Philip. He looked me up and down , I’ve never felt so embarrassed!
Make do
Make for Make off with Make out
Make up
Make up for
To manage with the limited or inadequate means available To move or head towards To carry away illicitly To pretend To manage to understand To invent a story To be reconciled To constitute a whole To compensate for something lost or missed To compensate someone for negligent or unfair treatment To compensate To come to / make a decision
We’ll have to make do with a limited staff due to the flu outbreak.
The storm was getting closer and so we made for the shore. The thieves made off with all the wedding gifts. William made out that he hadn’t been informed of the problem. I can’t make out what’s written, the writing is appalling! I don’t believe you, you made it all up The two brothers quarrelled but they made up the next day The class is made up of thirty students We have to make up the lessons we missed
I’ll try to make it up to you in the future
Our winning the contract makes up for all problems we had to overcome. Make up your mind , are you coming or not?
Put up
Put up with
To build To offer or show To raise (prices, curtains, decorations) To tolerate, stand for
Two new condominiums have been put up in the suburbs. He put up a brave fight. It took five hours to put up all the Christmas decorations. I won’t put up with his nonsense any more!
Run across / into Run out of Run over
Run up against
To meet by chance To exhaust supply of To knock a person or animal down with the car To encounter difficulty, a problem
I ran across/into Maureen at the supermarket. The car stopped because they had run out of petrol. Vivian got run over crossing when the lights were green.
We’ve stopped the project because we’ve run up against a problem.
Save up To put money by for later use I’m saving up all my money to buy a car. See about See off See through See to
To attend to, deal with To accompany a person who is departing To not be deceived by To deal with, take care of
We’ll have to see about getting you new shoes. I’ll come to the airport to see you off. I saw through her lies and deceptions I’ll see to the children’s lunch.
Send for* Send on*
To order someone to come, summon To forward, transmit mail or luggage to a further destination
I’ll send for the doctor, Johnnie’s temperature keeps rising. Please send on my mail until further notice.
Set about Set in Set out
Set up
To start doing with determination To begin (and likely to continue) To begin a journey, or enterprise To arrange or display To establish, arrange
We must set about tackling the problem. We must bring the plants indoors before the cold weather sets in. We set out for the top of the mountain at dawn. I’ve set out the plates and glasses, is there anything else? A committee has been set up to deal with the problem.
Settle down
Settle into
To adopt a more steady or secure style of life, esp. in a permanent job and home To begin to feel comfortable or established in a new home, situation, or job
One day I will settle down and raise a family.
He had soon settled into his new job.
Show off To make a deliberate or pretentious display of one’s abilities or accomplishments
You always show off when your boss is in the office!
Sink in To be full understood Oliver read the letter twice before its meaning sunk in.
Sit back* To relax and do nothing/not get involved
He didn’t help us at all, just sat back and watched us!
Slip up To make a careless error I often slip up when it comes to spelling.
Sort out To look through items in order to classify or make a selection, to arrange
I sorted out all the files this morning. Now everything is in its place.
To resolve a problem or difficulty (^) The teacher helped the student sort out her problem.
Stand down Stand for
Stand out* Stand up for Stand up to*
To resign or withdraw from a position To tolerate (put up with) To be an abbreviation/symbol for To project, to be easily noticeable To defend To resist, withstand To make a spirited defence against, to face boldly/bravely
He stood down as candidate for mayor. I won’t stand for any more rudeness! SMS stands for Short Message Service. A black sheep stands out in flock of white ones! Stand up for yourself! Don’t let them walk all over you! These boots will stand up to all weathers. I never thought Janet would have the courage to stand up to that bully. Stay up Not to go to bed I stayed up until 3 am working on my thesis.
Step up To increase, accelerate The government has stepped up efforts to combat inflation.
Take (someone) aback (be taken aback) Take after Take someone in Take off
To take on
To take someone out Take to Take over Take up
To shock or surprise someone
To resemble a parent or ancestor To deceive To remove To become airborne (of airplane) To become successful or popular To hire To escort, as on a date To form a liking for Assume control To become interested in a pursuit To occupy time or space, consume
I was taken aback by his abruptness.
Jane takes after her mother. No-one was taken in by her high and mighty manners. Take off those earrings, they look really silly! My plane takes off at 9.00. His career took off as soon as he left university. They’re not taking anyone on at the moment. John is taking Mary out. Alison took to Mary immediately. Alitalia has been taken over by an investment consortium. Fred has taken up playing Golf. Preparing lessons takes up a lot of time. This desk takes up too much space, I’ll have to get a smaller one.
Talk into / out of
Talk over
To persuade / dissuade
To discuss
Charles tried to talk me into going to Finland in the winter but I managed to talk him out of it by saying it was much too cold. You’d better talk it over with your husband before you buy a new car.
Tear up To pull or rip to pieces She tore the letter up as soon as she read it.
Tell off To reprimand or scold The teacher is always telling the students off for being late.
Think over/about To consider carefully I’ll think over/about what you said and let you have an answer tomorrow. I’ll think it over / I’ll think about it (NOT think it about )
Throw away Throw up
To discard, eliminate To vomit To abandon something (especially a job)
The toner had run out so I threw the cartridge away. Mark ate a bad oyster and threw up all night. He threw up a promising career in politics.
Try on Try out
To put on clothing to see if it fits To use for the first time, test
I tried on the shoes, but they were too small. Let’s try out the new car, shall we?
Turn down To reject something offered, an invitation
J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel was turned down by Penguin.
