Phrasal Verbs

A phrasal verb is a verb that is made up of a main verb together with an adverb or a preposition, or both. Typically, their meaning is not obvious from the meanings of the individual words themselves. Some phrasal verbs have been described in below:

Add up to (something)
Meaning: Equal
Example: Your purchases add up to $527.85

Ask (somebody) out

Meaning: Invite on a date

Example: Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie

Ask around

Meaning: ask many people the same question

Example: I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet

Back up (something)

Meaning: Reverse

Example: You’ll have to back up your car so that I can get out

Back (somebody) up

Meaning: Support

Example: My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job

Blow up

Meaning: Explode

Example: The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence

Blow (something) up

Meaning: Add air

Example: We have to blow 30 balloons up for the party

Break down

Meaning: Stop functioning (vehicle/machine)

Example: Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm

Break (something) down

Meaning: Divide into smaller parts

Example: Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts

Break in

Meaning: force entry to a building

Example: Somebody  broke in last night and stole our stereo

Break into (something)

Meaning: Enter forcibly

Example: The fireman had to break into the room to rescue the children

Break (something) in

Meaning: Wear something  a few times so that it doesn’t look/feel new

Example: I need to break these shoes in before  we run next week

Break up

Meaning: End a relationship

Example: My girlfriend and I broke up before I moved to America

Break out

Meaning: Escape

Example: The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren’t looking

Break out in (something)

Meaning: Develop a skin condition

Example: I broke out in a rash after our camping trip

Bring (somebody) down

Meaning: Make unhappy

Example: This sad music is bringing me down

Bring (somebody) up

Meaning: Raise a child

Example: My grandparents brought me up after my parents died