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List of English Phrasal Verbs Beginning With ‘F’
Showing 51 Verbs, 115 Phrasal Verbs

Face (2)
Face off
– Confront
Face up to
– Accept an unpleasant truth
Faff (2)
Faff about
– Behave indecisively
Faff around
– Behave indecisively
Fall (14)
Fall about
– Laugh a lot
Fall apart
– Break into pieces
– Become emotionally disturbed and unable to behave normally
Fall back
– Retreat
Fall back on
– Be able to use in an emergency
Fall behind
– Make less progress
Fall down
– Fall on the ground
– Have a weak point
Fall for
– Be attracted to somebody, fall in love
– Believe a lie or a piece of deception
Fall in
– Collapse
Fall into
– Start doing something unplanned
Fall off
– Decrease
Fall out
– Argue and be on bad terms with someone
– Lose hair
Fall over
– Fall on the ground
Fall through
– Be unsuccessful
Fall under
– Become controlled
Farm (1)
Farm out
– Give or contract work to someone else
Fart (2)
Fart about
– Waste time doing silly things
Fart around
– Waste time doing pointless things
Fasten (4)
Fasten down
– Tie something so that it doesn’t move
Fasten on
– Give attention to something that confirms your beliefs
Fasten onto
– Follow someone closely, normally when they don’t want your company
– Give attention to something that confirms your beliefs
Fasten up
– Close, attach
Fathom (1)
Fathom out
– Understand something
Fatten (1)
Fatten up
– Give an animal a lot to eat to make it fat
Fawn (2)
Fawn on
– Praise someone in an excessive way to get their favour or something from them
Fawn over
– Praise someone in an excessive way to get their favour or something from them
Feed (3)
Feed off
– Eat a food as part of an animals diet
– Use something to your advantage
Feed on
– Grow stronger
– Consume in an animal’s diet
– Give someone a particular food

Feed up
– Give someone a lot of food to restore their health, make them bigger, etc
Feel (2)
Feel up
– Touch sexually, grope
Feel up to
– Feel capable of doing something
Fend (2)
Fend for
– Take care of yourself or someone with help from other people
Fend off
– Resist something successfully
– Push an attacker away
Ferret (1)
Ferret out
– Search and discover something
Fess (2)
Fess up
– Confess, admit something reluctantly
– Give
Fess up to
– Confess, admit reluctantly to something
Fiddle (3)
Fiddle about
– Waste time doing silly things, or doing things unsuccessfully
Fiddle around
– Waste time doing silly things, or unsuccessful things
– Make small movements with your hands
Fiddle away
– Waste time
Fight (3)
Fight back
– Defend yourself, resist an attack
– Try to control and emotion and keep it hidden
Fight it out
– Struggle to see who wins, both by arguing or fighting
Fight off
– Fight an attacker and force them back
– Resist an illness or emotion
Figure (2)
Figure on
– Plan, expect
Figure out
– Find the answer to a problem
File (1)
File away
– Put a document in the correct place for storage in a filing system
Fill (5)
Fill in
– Complete a form
– Substitute someone at work
Fill in for
– Substitute

– Give someone information
Fill out
– Complete a form
Fill up
– Fill something completely
Filter (2)
Filter in
– Move into a lane of traffic without making other cars stop
Filter out
– Remove something unwanted
Find (1)
Find out
– Discover

Finish (1)
Finish off
– Finish completely
Fink (2)
Fink on
– Give away secrets about someone
Fink out
– Fail to keep a promise, arrangement, etc
Fire (3)
Fire away
– Ask questions
Fire off
– Send quickly, angrily or many (letter, emails, etc)
– Shoot, fire a gun (usually repeatedly)
Fire up
– Start a computer
– Excite, become excited
Firm (1)
Firm up
– Make things clearer in a negotiation or discussion
ish (2)
Fish for
– Try to get some information or to get someone to say something
Fish out
– Remove something from a bag, pocket, etc
– Remove from water, such as the sea, rivers, etc
Fit (3)
Fit in
– Get on in a group of people
– Have enough time or space for something
Fit into
– Become part of
Fit up
– Frame someone- make them look guilty of something they haven’t done
– Provide equipment
Fix (1)
Fix up
– Make an arrangement
Fizzle (1)
Fizzle out
– End in an unsuccessful way
Flag (2)
Flag down
– Signal at a vehicle to get it to stop
Flag up
– Raise an issue, or highlight its importance
Flake (1)
Flake out
– Fall asleep from exhaustion
Flame (2)
Flame out
– Fail Flame up
– Burn brightly
Flare (2)
Flare out
– Get angry suddenly
Flare up
– When trouble suddenly appears
Flesh (1)
Flesh out
– Add more details or information
Flick (2)
Flick over
– Change TV channels quickly

Flick through
– Change TV channels repeatedly
– Look through something quickly
Flip (3)
Flip off
– Extend your middle finger as a gesture of contempt
Flip out
– Become very excited and lose control
Flip through
– Look quickly through a magazine, book, etc
Flog (1)
Flog off
– Sell something cheaply to get rid of it
Floor (1)
Floor it
– Drive a vehicle as fast as possible
Flounce (2)
Flounce off
– Leave a place or walk away from someone angrily
Flounce out
– Leave a place angrily
Fly (5)
Fly about
– Circulate (rumors, etc)
Fly around
– Circulate (rumors, etc)
Fly at
– Attack
– Criticize or shout angrily
Fly by
– When time appears to move quickly
Fly into
– Change emotion quickly

Fob (4)
Fob off
– Make or persuade someone to accept something
– Lie or deceive someone
Fob off on
– Make or persuade someone to accept something you don’t want
Fob off onto
– Make or persuade someone to accept something you don’t want
Fob off with
– Make or persuade someone to accept something of lower quality than they wanted
– Make or persuade someone to accept something of lower quality than they wanted
Focus (1)
Focus on
– Concentrate
Fold (1)
Fold up
– Make a sheet of paper smaller
Follow (4)
Follow on
– Leave to meet someone after they have left the place you’re at
Follow on from
– Be the part of something
Follow through
– Do what is necessary to complete something or make it successful
Follow up
– Do something to check or improve an earlier action
– Find our about a problem and act
Fool (1)
Fool around
– Not be serious
– Be unfaithful
Forge (1)
Forge ahead
– Make a lot of progress in a short time
– Move forwards very quickly
Freak (1)
Freak out
– Become very disturbed or angry
Freeze (3)
Freeze out
– Shut out or exclude by unfriendly treatment
– Force to retire or withdraw from membership, a job, etc
Freeze over
– Become covered with ice (lake, river, pond, etc)
Freeze up
– Be blocked with ice
– Stop working because the parts of a machine won’t move
– When a computer stops working
– Be paralyzed with fear
Freshen (1)
Freshen up
– Wash quickly and improve appearance
– Add more alcohol to a glass before it is empty
– Quickly improve the appearance of something
Front (5)
Front for- Represent someone, especially when covering illegal or wrongful activities
Front off
– Confront someone and let them know you are prepared to fight
Front onto
– Face (of a building)
Front out
– Face up to someone, withstand criticism
Front up
– Appear somewhere for a short time
– Advance cash for something
Frown (1)
Frown on
– Disapprove

List of English Phrasal Verbs Beginning With ‘D’
Showing 30 Verbs, 77 Phrasal Verbs

Dash (1)
Dash off
– Leave somewhere quickly
– Do something quickly, especially writing
Dawn (1)
Dawn on
– Finally realize or understand something

Die (5)
Die away
– Become quieter or inaudible (of a sound)
Die down
– Decrease or become quieter
Die for
– Want something a lot
Die off
– Become extinct
Die out
– Become extinct or disappear
Dig (3)
Dig in
– Start eating greedily
Dig into
– Reach inside to get something
Dig up
– Find something that is supposed to be secret
Dine (2)
Dine out
– Have dinner outside your home
Dine out on
– Tell a story repeatedly that is well received
Dip (3)
Dip in
– Put something in a liquid for a short time
Dip into
– Read parts of a book, but not all
– Take money out of your savings
Dip out
– Leave a place without telling anyone
Disagree (1)
Disagree with
– Make someone feel sick or ill

Dish (2)
Dish out
– Serve food
– Give something, usually when you shouldn’t
– Criticize, when you can’t take criticism in return
Dish up
– Serve food
Dive (2)
Dive in
– Start doing something, usually without planning
– Start eating
Dive into
– Reach inside something quickly
Divvy (2)
Divvy out
– Divide, share
Divvy up
– Divide, share
Do (4)
Do away with
– Abolish, get rid of
Do out of
– Cheat somebody out of something that is rightfully theirs
Do up
– Close or fasten clothes, etc.
– Repair and renovate
Do without
– Manage without something
Doss (3)
Doss about
– Spend time doing very little or being unproductive
Doss around
– Spend time doing very little or being unproductive
Doss down
– Sleep somewhere temporarily because you don’t go home

Doze (1)
Doze off
– Fall asleep
Drag (1)
Drag on
– Be unnecessarily long
Draw (7)
Draw back
– Retreat, move backwards
Draw down
– Reduce levels
– Get funding
– To deplete by consumption or heavy spending
Draw in
– Get dark earlier
– Arrive at a station (for trains)
Draw into
– Get involved in something unpleasant
Draw on
– Pass slowly (time)
– Inhale smoke from a cigarette, cigar, etc
Draw out
– Make something continue longer than needed
– Make a shy person more outgoing
Draw up
– Prepare a contract
– When a vehicle stops
Dream (2)
Dream of
– Not think or consider
Dream up
– Invent something, have an idea
Dredge (1)
Dredge up
– Discover things about someone’s past

Dress (2)
Dress down
– Dress casually
– Scold
Dress up
– Dress very smartly
Drift (2)
Drift apart
– Slowly cease to be close to or friends with someone
Drift off
– Start to fall asleep
Drill (3)
Drill down
– Search through layers of information on a computer
Drill down through
– Get to the bottom of something, get detailed data
Drill into
– Repeat something many times to make someone learn it
Drink (1)
Drink up
– Finish a drink
Drive (6)
Drive away
– Force an animal or someone to leave a place
Drive back
– Repulse, force back
Drive by
– Do something out of a car
Drive off
– Drive away from a place
Drive out
– Force someone to leave a place
Drive up
– Make something increase

Drone (1)
Drone on
– Talk boringly for a long time
Drop (11)
Drop around
– Visit someone, often without making an arrangement
– Deliver
Drop away
– Become smaller- amount, numbers
Drop back
– Move towards the back of a group
Drop by
– Pay a brief visit
Drop in
– Visit without having made arrangements
Drop off
– Take something or someone to a place and leave it or them there.
– Fall asleep
– Decrease in number or amount
Drop out
– Quit a course
Drop over
– Visit for a short time
Drop round
– Visit someone, often without making an arrangement
– Deliver
Drop someone in it
– Get someone into trouble
Drop through
– Come to nothing, produce no results
Drown (2)
Drown in
– Cover excessively
Drown out
– Be so loud that another sound cannot be heard
Drum (3)
Drum into
– To make someone learn or believe something by constant repetition

Drum out
– Force someone out of their job or position
Drum up
– Increase support or interest
Duck (1)
Duck out of
– Avoid doing something
Duff (1)
Duff up
– Beat or hit someone repeatedly
Dumb (1)
Dumb down
– Reduce the intellectual level of something in search of popularity
Dwell (2)
Dwell on
– Spend a lot of time on something
Dwell upon
– Spend a lot of time on something

List of English Phrasal Verbs Beginning With ‘E’
Showing 11 Verbs, 21 Phrasal Verbs

Ease (2)
Ease off
– Reduce pressure
Ease up
– Relax, calm down

Eat (5)
Eat away
– Destroy slowly
Eat in
– Eat at home
Eat into
– Use something valuable when you don’t want to
Eat out
– Eat in a restaurant
Eat up
– Eat all of something
– Consume
– Consume something you don’t want to be consumed
Ebb (1)
Ebb away
– Disappear gradually
Edge (2)
Edge out
– Gradually push someone or something out of their position
Edge up
– Approach slowly
Egg (1)
Egg on
– Encourage
Eke (1)
Eke out
– Make something like money last as long as possible
Embark (2)
Embark on
– Start a project or venture
Embark upon
– Start a project or venture

Empty (1)
Empty out
– Empty something completely
– Remove some things or everything from a container
End (3)
End in
– Finish a certain way
End up
– Become or do something unplanned
End up with
– Get as a result of something
Enter (2)
Enter for
– Join or enter a competition
Enter into
– Become involved in or accept
Eye (1)
Eye up
– Look carefully at someone

List of English Phrasal Verbs Beginning With ‘C’
Showing 63 Verbs, 179 Phrasal Verbs

Call (10)
Call after
– Name someone after somebody else
Call around
– Visit
Call back
– Return a phone call
Call for
– Demand
– Go to collect something
– Telephone for something
– Go and collect someone to take them out
– Require
Call forth
– Make something happen
Call in
– Get someone to come and do a job
– Stop and visit
Call off
– Cancel
– Order someone to stop attacking
Call on
– Ask for help
– Visit
– Challenge
– Ask someone to do something, especially to speak in public. (Formal)
Call round
– Visit
Call up
– Summon someone for military service
– Telephone
Calm (1)

Calm down
– Stop being angry or emotionally excited
Cancel (1)
Cancel out
– Have an opposite effect on something that has happened, taking things back to the beginning
Care (1)
Care for
– Like
Carried (1)
Carried away
– Get so emotional that you lose control
Carry (7)
Carry forward
– Include a figure in a later calculation
– Make something progress
Carry off
– Win, succeed
– Die of a disease
Carry on
– Continue
– Behave badly
Carry on with
– Have an affair
Carry out
– Perform a task
– Food bought from a restaurant to take away
Carry over
– Continue past a certain point
Carry through
– Complete successfully
Cart (1)
Cart off
– Take someone away, usually under arrest or to prison
– Take something away, especially if stealing or without permission
Cash (4)
Cash in
– Convert shares, bonds, casino chips, etc, into money
Cash in on
– Benefit or make money on something, especially if done unfairly
Cash out
– Illegally access a bank account or credit card and steal money
Cash up
– Count all the money taken in a shop or business at the end of the day
Catch (6)
Catch at
– Take or grab hold of something
Catch on
– Become popular
– Finally understand what is going on
Catch out
– Trick
– Discover or prove that someone is lying
– Put someone in an unexpected and difficult situation (often passive)
Catch up
– Get work, etc, up to date.
– Reach someone who was ahead of you
Catch up on
– Do something that should have been done earlier
– Reminisce with an old friend after not seeing them for a while
Catch up with
– Do something that should have been done earlier
– Meet someone after a period of time and find out what they have been doing
– When something negative starts to have an effect
– Punish someone after they have been doing something wrong for a long time
– Learn something new that many people already understand
Cater (2)
Cater for
– To provide what is necessary
Cater to
– To provide what is needed, often seen negatively
Cave (1)
Cave in
– Collapse
– Stop resisting or refusing

Chalk (3)
Chalk out
– To cut a line of cocaine
Chalk up
– To achieve something good
Chalk up to
– Explain the reason for a problem
Chance (1)
Chance upon
– Find something by accident
Change (1)
Change over
– Change a system
Charge (2)
Charge up
– Put electricity into a battery
Charge with
– Accuse somebody of a crime
Chase (3)
Chase down
– Try hard to find or get something
Chase off
– Force a person to leave or go away
Chase up
– Ensure that someone remembers to do something
– Try to get someone to pay a bill, debt, etc
– Try to get more information about the progress of something
Chat (1)
Chat up
– Talk to someone you are sexually interested in to get them interested in you

Cheat (2)
Cheat on
– Be sexually unfaithful
– Deceive or betray, often in a sexual and/or emotional context
Cheat out of
– Get money from someone under false pretences
Check (7)
Check by
– Visit a place to check something
Check in
– Register on arriving at a hotel or at the airport
Check into
– Register on arriving at a hotel or at the airport
Check off
– Mark something on a list as done
Check out
– Pay the bill when leaving a hotel
– Die
– Stop paying attention
Check out of
– Settle up and pay before leaving a hotel
Check over
– Check something very carefully
Cheer (2)
Cheer on
– Encourage
Cheer up
– Be less unhappy
Chew (4)
Chew on
– Thinks about something carefully before deciding
Chew out
– Criticize someone angrily
Chew over
– Think about an issue
Chew up
– Cut into small pieces with your teeth
– Damage something inside a machine
Chicken (1)
Chicken out
– Be too afraid to do something
Chill (1)
Chill out
– Relax
Chime (1)
Chime in
– Contribute to a discussion
Chip (2)
Chip away at
– Gradually reduce something to make it less powerful, effective, etc
Chip in
– Contribute some money
– Contribute to a discussion
Choose (1)
Choose up
– Form groups or teams
– Form groups or teams
Chop (2)
Chop down
– Fell or cut down a tree
Chop up
– Cut into small pieces
Chuck (4)
Chuck away
– Dispose of something you no longer need or want
Chuck in
– Quit something
– Make a comment
Chuck out
– Dispose of something you no longer need or want
Chuck up
– Vomit, be sick
– Quit something
Churn (1)
Churn out
– Produce, usually quickly or in large amounts without much regard to quality
Clag (1)
Clag up
– Make something sticky
Clam (1)
Clam up
– Be quiet, refuse to speak
Clamp (1)
Clamp down on
– Restrict or try to stop something
Claw (1)
Claw back
– Get money back
– Retake possession with difficulty
Clean (2)
Clean out
– Tidy up thoroughly and throw away unwanted things.
– Cause someone to spend all their money
Clean up
– Tidy and clean
Clear (4)
Clear away
– Leave a place
– Remove or tidy
Clear off
– Leave somewhere quickly
Clear out
– Tidy up thoroughly and throw away unwanted stuff.
– Leave somewhere
Clear up
– Cure or recover from an infection
– Tidy up
– Explain
– Improve (weather)
Click (1)
Click through
– Open an advertisement on the Internet
Climb (1)
Climb down
– Accept that you are wrong and change your position
Clog (1)
Clog up
– Block, slow movement right down
Close (8)
Close down
– Close a shop, branch or business permanently
– Stop an opponent being a challenge
Close in
– Surround, envelop
– Approach, get near
Close in on
– Get near someone
Close in upon
– Get near someone
Close off
– Block a place to stop people entering
Close on
– Get nearer
Close out
– Bring something to an end
– Close or stop using
– Ignore, exclude

Close up
– Completely close something
– Join together
– Move closer together
Cloud (1)
Cloud over
– Get very cloudy
Clown (2)
Clown about
– Behave stupidly or waste time
Clown around
– Behave stupidly or waste time
Cock (1)
Cock up
– Ruin or spoil something
Color (1)
Color up
– Blush
Come (32)
Come about
– Happen, occur
Come across
– Find by accident
– Agree to have sex with someone
– The way other people see you
Come apart
– Break into pieces
Come around
– Recover consciousness
Come around to
– Agree with or accept something you had previously disapproved of or disliked.
Come before
– Appear in court charged with a crime or offence
Come by
– Visit
– Acquire
Come down
– Rain
– Travel
Come down on
– Criticize heavily
Come down with
– Fall ill
Come forth
– Appear
Come forth with
– Provide information
Come from
– Country or town where you were born
Come in
– Arrive for flights
– Place or ranking in a competition, etc.
– Receive news
Come in for
– Receive (criticism or praise)
Come into
– Be important or relevant
– Inherit
Come into use
– Start being used
Come off
– When something breaks off
– Be successful
Come off it
– I don’t believe what you’re saying; used as an imperative
Come on
– Encouragement
– Start an illness
– Start functioning (machines, etc)
Come out
– A secret is revealed
– Be published or otherwise available to the public
– Disappear when washed
– Let people know that you are lesbian or gay
– When the sun appears
Come out in
– Have a rash or similar skin problem
Come out with
– Make something available
– Say something publicly and unexpectedly

Come over
– Feel strange
– Affect mentally in such a way as to change behavior (possibly related to ‘overcome’)
Come round
– Become conscious, wake up from anesthetic
– Change your opinion
Come through
– Arrive (messages and information)
– Communicate an emotion
– Produce a result
Come through with
– Provide something needed
Come to
– Become conscious, wake up from anesthetic
– Result in
Come up
– Appear
– Rise (the sun)
Come up against
– Encounter problems or difficulties
Come up with
– Think of a solution, excuse, etc.
Come upon
– Find by chance
Conjure (1)
Conjure up
– Create a picture or memory in someone’s mind
– Create something without many resources
Conk (1)
Conk out
– Fall fast asleep
– Suddenly breakdown or stop working
Contract (3)
Contract in
– Become involved or committed to something
Contract out
– Give a contract for a service outside the company you work for
Contract out of
– Formally leave and agreement
Cool (1)
Cool down
– Get cooler
– Become calm
Coop (1)
Coop up
– Confine in a small area
Cop (3)
Cop it
– Get into trouble
Cop off
– Leave work or school early
– Kiss, pet or have sex with someone
Cop out
– Choose an easy alternative
Cotton (1)
Cotton on
– To work out the truth
Could (1)
Could do with
– Need or want something
Count (4)
Count in
– Include or involve
Count on
– Depend, rely
Count out
– Exclude
Count up
– Add

Cozy (2)
Cozy up
– Make yourself comfortable
Cozy up to
– Make yourself popular with someone
Crack (3)
Crack down on
– Use more authority than usual
Crack on
– Continue doing something with energy
Crack up
– Have a nervous breakdown
– Have bad reception on a mobile phone
– Burst out laughing
– Damage a car badly
Crank (2)
Crank out
– Produce a lot of something fast
Crank up
– Inject non-medical drugs
– Start a machine, originally with a handle
– Increase, make something bigger
Crash (1)
Crash out
– Sleep at someone’s house because you are too tired, drunk, etc. to leave
– Fall asleep
Creep (6)
Creep in
– Start to be noticeable
– Get included despite attempts to keep it or them out
Creep into
– Become noticeable in something
Creep out
– make someone feel worried or uneasy
Creep out on
– To do the same activity for a very long time

Creep over
– Start to have a negative feeling
Creep up on
– Approach without someone realizing
Crop (1)
Crop up
– Appear unexpectedly
Cross (2)
Cross off
– Delete, remove from a list
Cross out
– Put as line through some writing to show it is wrong
Crumb (1)
Crumb down
– Clear a table in a restaurant
Cry (2)
Cry off
– To cancel an arrangement
Cry out
– Shout because you are in pain
Cut (11)
Cut across
– Go across a place rather than around it to make the journey quicker
– Affect people of different groups, classes, etc
Cut back
– Reduce
Cut back on
– Reduce expenditure
Cut down
– Consume less
– Shoot
– Reduce a vertical thing to ground level by cutting
– Cut something from a high position
Cut down on
– Reduce

Cut in
– Start functioning
– Drive in front of another vehicle without warning
– Interrupt
– Include someone in a deal that makes money
– Mix fat and flour until the combine
Cut it out
– Stop your unfair or unreasonable behavior
Cut off
– Disconnect
– Isolate or make inaccessible
Cut out
– Exclude
– When an engine or motor stops
– Cut a picture or similar from a magazine, etc
Cut out on
– Let down, snub
Cut up
– Cut into smaller pieces
– Drive into a neighboring lane, directly in front of another vehicle
– Upset
– Have a lot of small injuries

List of English Phrasal Verbs Beginning With ‘B’
Showing 64 Verbs, 179 Phrasal Verbs

Back (7)
Back away
– Retreat or go backwards
Back down
– Retract or withdraw your position or proposal in an argument
Back into
– Enter a parking area in reverse gear
Back off
– Retreat
Back out
– Fail to keep an arrangement or promise
Back out of
– Fail to keep an agreement, arrangement
– Exit a parking area in reverse gear
Back up
– Make a copy of computer data
– Support
– Drive a vehicle backwards
Bag (1)
Bag out
– Criticize
Bail (4)
Bail out
– Save, rescue
– Remove water from something that is flooded
– Jump out of a plane because it is going to crash
Bail out of
– Pay a bond to release someone from jail
Bail out on
– Stop supporting someone when they are in trouble
Bail up
– Talk to someone and delay them
– Rob someone at gunpoint
Ball (1)
Ball up
– Confuse or make things complicated
– Roll or form into a round shape
Balls (1)
Balls up
– Spoil, ruin
Bang (5)
Bang about
– Move in a place making a lot of noise
Bang around
– Move in a place making a lot of noise
Bang on about
– Keep talking about something
Bang out
– Play a musical instrument loudly
Bang up
– Put someone in prison
– Damage badly
Bank (1)
Bank on
– Count or rely on
Barge (2)
Barge in
– Enter a place and interrupt
Barge into
– Enter a place and interrupt people rudely
Bash (4)
Bash about
– Mistreat physically
Bash in
– Break, damage or injure by hitting
Bash out
– Write something quickly without much preparation

Bash up
– Break, damage or hurt by hitting
Bawl (1)
Bawl out
– Scold, shout at someone
– Scold
– Sing or shout unpleasantly loudly
Be (25)
Be after
– Try to find or get
Be along
– Arrive
Be away
– Be elsewhere; on holiday, etc.
Be cut out for
– Be suitable, have the necessary qualities
Be cut up
– Be upset
Be down
– Be depressed
– Be reduced or less
Be down on
– Have negative feelings toward someone
Be down with
– Be ill
Be fed up
– Be bored, upset or sick of something
Be in
– Be at home or at work
– Be submitted, arrive
Be in on
– Be involved in
Be not on
– Be unacceptable
Be off
– Be bad (of food)
– Depart, leave
Be on
– Be functioning (of machines)
– Take place
– Take medication or drugs, especially when they affect the person badly
– Be at the top of one’s game, performing very well
Be on about
– Mean, try to say
Be onto
– Pursue, be aware of someone’s true nature
Be out
– Be absent from a place
Be out of
– Have no more left
Be out to
– Attempt
Be snowed under
– Have too much work
Be taken aback
– Be shocked or surprised
Be taken with
– Like something
Be up
– Be out of bed
– Have increased or risen
– When the time for something finishes or expires
Be up for
– Be enthusiastic about an upcoming event
Be up to
– Be good enough
– Doing something naughty or wrong
Bear (6)
Bear down on
– Move towards
Bear on
– Influence, affect
Bear out
– Confirm that something is correct
– Confirm that something is correct
Bear up
– Resist pressure
Bear up under
– Cope with something difficult or stressful
Bear with
– Be patient
Beat (3)
Beat down
– Strong sunshine
Beat out
– Narrowly win in competition
Beat up
– Attack violently
Beaver (2)
Beaver away
– Work hard
Beaver away at
– Work hard doing something
Bed (2)
Bed down
– Sleep somewhere less comfortable than normal
– Become established or successful over time
Bed out
– Move a plant outside
Beef (1)
Beef up
– Make something stronger or more solid
Belt (2)
Belt out
– Sing something loudly
Belt up
– Be quiet
– Fasten your seatbelt
Bend (3)
Bend down
– Lower the top half of your body
Bend over
– Lower the top part of your body
Bend over backwards
– Do a lot to try to help or please someone

Black (1)
Black out
– Fall unconscious
– Lose light
Blank (1)
Blank out
– Censor text so that words cannot be read
– Have a temporary memory failure
Blare (1)
Blare out
– A loud sound or music
Blast (1)
Blast off
– Leave the ground- spaceship or rocket
Blaze (1)
Blaze away
– Fire a gun repeatedly
Bliss (1)
Bliss out
– Be extremely relaxed and happy
Block (4)
Block in
– Park a car and obstruct another car
– Shade or fill in
Block off
– Obstruct an exit to prevent people from leaving
Block out
– Stop light from entering or leaving
– Try not think about or feel something because it is upsetting or painful
Block up
– Fill a space so that nothing can pass
Blow (7)
Blow away
– Kill
– Beat rivals or competitors by a large margin
– Impress greatly
– When the wind moves something from a place
Blow down
– When the wind forces something to fall
Blow in
– Arrive, sometimes suddenly or unexpectedly
Blow off
– Not keep an appointment
– Ignore, not do something
Blow out
– Extinguish candles, matches, etc.
– Defeat decisively
Blow over
– When a scandal gets forgotten
Blow up
– Explode
– Inflate
– Enlarge (e.g., photograph).
Blurt (1)
Blurt out
– Say something quickly without thinking, especially if you shouldn’t
Bog (4)
Bog down
– Slow make progress
Bog in
– Eat enthusiastically
Bog into
– Eat something enthusiastically
Bog off!
– Get lost
Boil (4)
Boil down
– Simplify, reduce to the essentials
Boil down to
– Amount to
Boil over
– When a hot liquid spills out of a container
– When people lose their tempers and things get nasty

Boil up
– Feel a negative emotion strongly
– Cook or heat something to boiling point
Bone (1)
Bone up on
– Study hard
Book (3)
Book in
– Make a reservation in advance
– Check in at a hotel
Book into
– Make a reservation in advance
– Check in at a hotel
Book up
– Reserve
Boot (1)
Boot up
– Start a computer
Border (1)
Border on
– Be located next to a place
– Be very nearly something
Boss (2)
Boss about
– Use excessive authority to control people
Boss around
– Use excessive authority to control people
Botch (1)

Botch up
– Ruin or spoil something
Bottle (3)
Bottle away
– Store up
Bottle out
– Lack courage to do something
Bottle up
– Not express your feelings
Bottom (1)
Bottom out
– Pass the lowest point and start rising
Bounce (3)
Bounce into
– Force someone
Bounce back
– Recover
Bounce off
– Test ideas
Bowl (1)
Bowl over
– Surprise someone greatly
Box (2)
Box in
– Prevent something from moving, especially vehicles
Box up
– Pack things in boxes to move them
Branch (1)
Branch out
– Move into a different area of business, etc.

Break (8)
Break away
– Leave an organization, usually to form a new one
Break down
– End negotiations unsuccessfully
– Start crying
– Stop working
Break in
– Go into a building to steal something
– Interrupt something
– Train a horse to be ridden
– Carefully use new products until they are fully functional.
Break off
– Break a piece from something
– End a relationship
Break out in
– Sweat heavily, develop skin sores or irritation.
Break out of
– Escape
Break through
– Pass a barrier or obstacle
Break up
– Break into many pieces
– Close an educational institution for the holidays
– Finish a relationship
– Become inaudible over the telephone because of interference
Breeze (4)
Breeze along
– Move easily and quickly
Breeze in
– Enter a place quickly
Breeze into
– Enter a place quickly
Breeze through
– Pass easily, succeed
Brighten (1)
Brighten up
– Improve (weather)
– Become happier
– Make something more attractive or pleasant
Bring (14)
Bring about
– Make something happen
Bring along
– Bring someone or something to certain place
– Help someone improve
Bring around
– Persuade or convince someone
– Bring something with you when you visit
– Get someone talking about something
Bring back
– Cause someone to remember
– Return
Bring down
– Make a government fall
– Make something cheaper
Bring forth
– Produce something, make it known or visible
– Produce
– Make something happen
– Remove something from where it is kept or hidden
Bring forward
– Make something happen earlier than originally planned
Bring in
– Earn
Bring on
– Cause something to happen or speed up the process
– Make something appear
Bring out
– Release or publish
– Elicit a response
Bring out in
– Cause a health problem or reaction
Bring round
– Make someone wake up from unconsciousness or an anaesthetic
Bring up
– Mention
– Raise a child
Bring Up
– Be officially charged with a crime
Brush (2)
Brush off
– Ignore, pay little attention
Brush up
– Improve a skill quickly
Bubble (1)
Bubble over
– Become very excited
Buck (1)
Buck up
– Hurry (either transitive or reflexive)
– Smarten up, improve
Bucket (1)
Bucket down
– Rain heavily
Budge (1)
Budge up
– Move to make space for someone
Buff (2)
Buff up
– Clear, clean or make something shine
– Improve
Buff up on
– Improve your knowledge quickly
Bug (2)
Bug off!
– Go away
Bug out
– Open your eyes wide in surprise
– Leave somewhere in a hurry
Build (1)
Build up
– Develop a company
– Increase
Bulk (1)
Bulk out
– Make something bigger or thicker
Bump (3)
Bump into
– Meet by chance
Bump off
– Kill
Bump up
– Increase
Bundle (3)
Bundle off
– Send someone somewhere
Bundle out
– Expel
Bundle up
– Put on warm clothing
– Wrap or tie things together
Bunk (1)
Bunk off
– Not go to school when you should
Buoy (1)
Buoy up
– Make someone feel more positive
Burn (4)
Burn down
– Burn completely
Burn off
– Remove by burning or similar process
Burn out
– Lose enthusiasm and energy to continue in a demanding job
Burn up
– Destroy completely by fire
– Drive at high speed
– To be or cause to be highly annoyed
Burst (1)
Burst into
– Catch fire very quickly
– Laugh, cry or clap loudly
Butt (2)
Butt in
– Interrupt
Butt out
– Not be involved in other people’s business
Butter (1)
Butter up
– Praise or flatter someone excessively
Buy (5)
Buy in
– Force a CD or record into the charts by buying lots of copies
Buy into
– Accept an idea
Buy off
– Pay someone to stop them causing trouble
Buy out
– Buy somebody’s share in a company
Buy up
– Buy all of something
Buzz (3)
Buzz around
– Move quickly around a place
Buzz off
– Leave somewhere
Buzz off!
– Go away (imperative)

List of English Phrasal Verbs Beginning With ‘A’
Showing 11 Verbs, 22 Phrasal Verbs

Account (1)
Account for
– To explain
Ache (1)
Ache for
– Want something or someone a lot
Act (3)
Act on
– To take action because of something like information received
Act out
– Perform something with actions and gestures.
– Express an emotion in your behaviour
Act up
– Behave badly or strangely
Add (3)
Add on
– Include in a calculation
Add up
– To make a mathematical total
– Be a satisfactory explanation for something
Add up to
– Have a certain result
Aim (1)
Aim at
– To target

Allow (1)
Allow for
– Include something in a plan or calculation
Angle (1)
Angle for
– Try to get something indirectly, by hinting or suggesting
Answer (2)
Answer back
– To reply rudely to someone in authority
Answer for
– Be held responsible for a problem
– Speak on behalf of someone or from knowing them
Argue (1)
Argue out
– Argue about a problem to find a solution
Ask (7)
Ask after
– Enquire about someone’s health, how life is going
Ask around
– Ask a number of people for information of help
– Invite someone
Ask for
– To provoke a negative reaction
– Request to have or be given
Ask in
– To invite somebody into your house
Ask out
– To invite someone for a date
Ask over
– Invite
Ask round
– Invite someone
Auction (1)
Auction off
– Sell something in an auction

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