| A | B |
|---|
| ask out | invite someone on a date |
| ask around | ask many people the same question |
| add up to | equal |
| back up (object) | reverse |
| back up (person) | support |
| blow up | explode |
| blow something up | add air |
| break down (object) | stop functioning (vehicle, machine) |
| break down (person) | get upset |
| break down | divide into smaller parts |
| break in | force entry to a building |
| break into | enter forcibly |
| break in | wear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel new |
| break up | end a relationship |
| break out | escape |
| break out in | develop a skin condition |
| bring down | make unhappy |
| bring up | to raise a child |
| bring up (conversation) | start talking about a subject |
| bring up (bodily function) | vomit |
| call around | phone many different places/people |
| call back | return a phone call |
| call off | cancel |
| call on | ask for an answer or opinion |
| call up | phone |
| calm down | relax after being angry |
| catch up | get to the same point as someone else |
| check in | arrive and register at a hotel or airport |
| check out | leave a hotel |
| check someone/something out | look at carefully, investigate |
| check out someone/something | look at (informal) |
| cheer up | become happier |
| cheer someone up | make happier |
| chip in | help |
| clean up | tidy, clean |
| come across | find unexpectedly |
| come apart | separate |
| come down with | become sick |
| come forward | volunteer for a task or to give evidence |
| come from | originate in |
| count on | rely on |
| cross out | draw a line through |
| cut back on | consume less |
| cut down | make something fall to the ground |
| cut in | interrupt |
| cut off | remove with something sharp / stop providing |
| cut out | remove part of something |
| do over | do again |
| do away with | discard |
| dress up | wear nice clothing |
| drop in/by/over | come without an appointment |
| drop off | take someone/something somewhere and leave them/it there |
| drop out | quit a class, school etc |
| eat out | eat at a restaurant |
| end up | eventually reach/do/decide |
| fall apart | break into pieces |
| fall down | fall to the ground |
| fall out | separate from an interior |
| figure out | understand, find the answer |
| fill in | to write information in blanks / to provide missing information |
| fill out | to write information in blanks |
| fill up | fill to the top |
| find out | discover |
| get across | communicate, make understandable |
| get along | like each other |
| get around | have mobility |
| get away | go on vacation |
| get away with | do without being noticed or punished |
| get back | return |
| get something back | receive something you had before |
| get back at | retaliate, take revenge |
| get back into | become interested in something again |
| get on | step onto a vehicle |
| get over | recover from an illness, loss, difficulty / overcome a problem |
| get together | meet (usually for social reasons) |
| get up | stand / get out of bed |
| give someone away | reveal hidden information about someone |
| give something away | ruin a secret / give something to someone for free |
| give back | return a borrowed item |
| give out | give to many people (usually at no cost) |
| give up | quit a habit /stop trying |
| go after someone | follow someone |
| go after something | try to achieve something |
| go against someone | compete, oppose |
| go ahead | start, proceed |
| go back | return to a place |
| go out | leave home to go on a social event |
| go out with | date |
| go over | review |
| go without | suffer lack or deprivation |
| grow apart | stop being friends over time |
| grow back | regrow |
| grow out of | get too big for |
| grow into | grow big enough to fit |
| hand down | give something used to someone else |
| hand in | submit |
| hand over | give (usually unwillingly) |
| hang in | stay positive |
| hang on | wait a short time (informal) |
| hang out | spend time relaxing (informal) |
| hang up | end a phone call |
| hold back | prevent from doing/going, hide an emotion |
| hold on | wait a short time |
| hold onto | hold firmly using your hands or arms |
| hold up | rob / delay |
| keep on doing | continue doing |
| keep something from someone | not tell |
| keep someone/something out | stop from entering |
| keep up | continue at the same rate |
| let down | fail to support or help, disappoint |
| let in | allow to enter |
| look after | take care of |
| look down on | think less of, consider inferior |
| look for | try to find |
| look forward to | be excited about the future |
| look into | investigate |
| look out | be careful, vigilant, and take notice |
| look out for | be especially vigilant for |
| look over | check, examine |
| look up | search and find information in a reference book or database |
| look up to | have a lot of respect for |
| make something up | invent, lie about something |
| make up | forgive each other |
| make someone up | apply cosmetics to |
| mix up | confuse two or more things |
| pass away | die |
| pass out | faint |
| pass something out | give the same thing to many people |
| pass something up | decline (usually something good) |
| pay back | return owed money |
| pay for | be punished for doing something bad |
| pick out | choose |
| point out | indicate with your finger |
| put something down | put what you are holding on a surface or floor |
| put someone down | insult, make someone feel stupid |
| put off | postpone |
| put out | extinguish |
| put together | assemble |
| put up with | tolerate |
| put on | put clothing/accessories on your body |
| run into | meet unexpectedly |
| run over | drive a vehicle over a person or thing |
| run through | rehearse, review |
| run away | leave unexpectedly, escape |
| run out | have none left |
| send back | return (usually by mail) |
| set something up | arrange, organize |
| set someone up | trick, trap |
| shop around | compare prices |
| show off | act extra special for people watching (usually boastfully) |
| sleep over | stay somewhere for the night (informal) |
| sort out | organize, resolve a problem |
| stick to | continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing |
| switch off | stop the energy flow, turn off |
| switch on | start the energy flow, turn on |
| take after | resemble a family member |
| take apart | purposely break into pieces |
| take back | return an item |
| take off | start to fly / remove something (usually clothing) |
| take something out | remove from a place or thing |
| take someone out | pay for someone to go somewhere with you |
| tear up | rip into pieces |
| think back | remember (often + to, sometimes + on) |
| think over | consider |
| throw away | dispose of |
| turn down | decrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc) / refuse |
| turn off | stop the energy flow, switch off |
| turn on | start the energy flow, switch on |
| turn up | increase the volume or strength (heat, light etc) / appear suddenly |
| try on | sample clothing |
| try out | test |
| use up | finish the supply |
| wake up | stop sleeping |
| warm up | increase the temperature / prepare body for exercise |
| wear off | fade away |
| work out | exercise / be successful / make a calculation |
