phrasal verb meaning example sentence
Ask out invite on a date Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.
ask around ask many people the same
question I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.
add up to equal Your purchases add up to $205.32.
Back up reverse You'll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
Back up support My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.
blow up explode The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
Blow up add air We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.
break down stop functioning (vehicle,
machine)
Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the
snowstorm.
break down get upset The woman broke down when the police told her that
her son had died.
Break down divide into smaller parts Our teacher broke the final project down into three
separate parts.
break in force entry to a building Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.
break into enter forcibly The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the
children.
Break in wear sthg a few times so that it
doesn't look/feel new I need to break these shoes in before we run next week.
break in interrupt The TV station broke in to report the news of the
president's death.
break up end a relationship My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.
break up start laughing (informal) The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started
talking.
break out escape The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't
looking.
break out in develop a skin condition I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
Bring down make unhappy This sad music is bringing me down.
Bring up raise a child My grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
Bring up start talking about a subject My mother walks out of the room when my father brings
up sports.
Bring up vomit He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the
