Phrasal Verbs 1-100
1.
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abide by
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To accept and obey the law, rule, etc.,
e.g. We have to abide by the law even if we don’t agree with
it.
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2.
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accede to
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To reluctantly agree to a demand, etc.
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3.
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act … out
act up
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To perform a past event;
To express one’s feelings through one’s
behaviour.
(Children) to behave badly.
(Machine, etc.) does not work in the way
it should.
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4.
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add … in
add … on
add to
add up
add up to
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To include something with something else.
To enlarge something, especially a
building, e.g. They added on an extension to the museum to
house the fossil collection.
To increase the amount, cost, or degree
of something.
To increase by small amounts to reach a
total.
To calculate the total of something, e.g.
to add up one’s points, marks, scores, etc.
To total up.
To combine small amounts to find out the
total, e.g. When the service charges are taken in, the bill adds up
to an amount greater than expected.
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5.
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adhere to
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To conduct oneself in accordance to a
particular rule, etc.
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6.
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admit of
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To accept something as capable of
existing or happening.
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7.
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agree with
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To have the same view as someone else.
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8.
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aim at
aim … at
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To try to achieve an outcome, e.g.
She aims at losing 10 kg by the end of the year.
To point something such as a weapon,
camera, etc. at a target, e.g. He aimshis camera at his
group of friends.
To design something for a specific class
or group of people, e.g. The new radio station aims most of
its programs at a teenage audience.
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9.
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allow for
allow of
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To consider all factors involved so the
problem can be resolved, e.g. If we allow for inevitable
wastage, the amount of material needed will be greater to meet the production
quota.
To show that something is likely
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10.
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allude to
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To refer to someone or something
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11.
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amount to
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To equal to something, e.g. The loss
through pilferage amounts to at least 3 % of production
cost.
To have same effect as something else,
e.g. Her remark amounts to an insult.
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12.
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angle for
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To request something in an indirect way,
e.g. Quite obviously, he’s angling fora date with her.
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13.
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answer for
answer to
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To explain one’s wrong deed or to explain
on behalf of someone, e.g. The coach must answer for the
team’s poor performance.
To explain something, especially having
done something wrong, to someone, e.g. He answers directly to the
Chief Engineer.
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14.
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appertain to
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To belong to or concern something
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15.
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arse around/about
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To waste time, e.g. He has been warned
not to arse about in the park.
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16.
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ascribe … to
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To accept that an event comes about
because of someone or something, e.g. They ascribe the high
unemployment rate to the government’s mismanagement of the
economy.
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17.
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ask … for
ask … out
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To say that one wants something, e.g.
We asked at the counter for free gift
vouchers but got none because we have not spent enough.
To show something as requested, e.g. I
was asked for my identity card which I had not brought
along, so I was not allowed into the office.
To invite someone out, e.g. This is the
tenth and maybe last time I’ll ask her outafter
nine unsuccessful attempts.
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18.
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attend to
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To deal with something or help someone,
e.g. He had to attend to more emergency cases today than any
other days.
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19.
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attribute to
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To say a situation is caused by
something, e.g. The residents attribute the increase in
burglary cases to lack of regular patrol of the streets by
the police.
To say that someone is responsible for
something, e.g. They attribute the short stories to him
without having any clear evidence that he wrote them.
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20.
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average out
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To calculate the usual number of times a
thing happens.
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21.
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awake to
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To be aware of something and its possible
effects, e.g. People are starting to awake to the
therapeutic value of herbs.
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22.
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awaken … to
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To make someone aware of something and
its consequences.
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23.
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back away
back down
back off
back onto
back up
back … up
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To move backwards;
To become uninterested or cease
participation in something.
To concede defeat or stop being
confrontational, e.g. The workers planned to go on strike, but backed
down when the employers threaten to sake them.
To move away from someone or something,
usually because of danger or to avoid injury, e.g. He was warned to back
off, but he refused and a fight ensued.
(Building, etc.) To have its back facing
a particular area.
To make a copy of data on a computer
program or disc., e.g. He has cultivated a good habit of backing
up every piece of work he does.
To provide evidence to support one’s
statement, claim, etc., e.g. Jack backed up his claim of
winning the jackpot by producing a photocopy of his cheque for the winning
amount.
To move or move a vehicle in the reverse
direction, e.g. I backed up my car a little in the parking
lot between two cars so we could get out.
To support someone in a situation by
agreeing with them or doing something to help them, e.g. He is doing it not
just for himself, so I’ll back him up.
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24.
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bag … up
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To put small items into bags.
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25.
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bail out
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To deposit money for someone to be out of
prison while awaiting court trial.
To help someone or a financial
institution ut of financial problem by providing money.
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26.
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ball … up
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To complicate matters.
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27.
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band together
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To unite in order to achieve something.
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28.
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bandy … about
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To flaunt or say something repeatedly
with intention to impress.
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29.
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bang on
bang … out
bang … up
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To talk incessantly in a boring manner.
To sing a song or play a tune loudly and
badly.
To wreck something.
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30.
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bank on
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To rely on someone or something to
produce an outcome.
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31.
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bargain for
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To be prepared for something adverse that
may happen to one’s plan.
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32.
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barge in
barge in on
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To go or dash in uninvited.
To interrupt rudely.
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33.
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base … on/upon
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To use something as basis for development
of a course of action.
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34.
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bash away at
bash on
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To continue working or hitting hard at
something.
To persist in an activity or process in
order to complete something.
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35.
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bat … around
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To engage in a discussion about
something.
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36.
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bawl … out
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To scold someone for the wrong they have
done.
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37.
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bear down
bear … down
bear … out
bear up
bear with
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To appear threatening to someone in the
way one behaves.
To apply pressure on something.
To deal successfully with a difficult
person or something.
To use something to testify to the
existence or truth of something else.
To be undaunted by adverse conditions.
To ask someone to be patient while you
are engaged with something. To exercise patience with a difficult person.
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38.
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beat down
beat … down
beat off
beat out
beat … out
beat up
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(Sunlight, rain, etc.) to come down in
large quantity.
To bargain for or persuade someone to
offer a lower price.
To frighten or drive someone or something
away.
To extinguish a fire by beating;
To beat out a rhythm on a drum.
To defeat a competition rival.
To cause injury to someone by physical
assault, e.g. Members of the public caught up with the pickpocket and beat him up until
he pleaded for mercy.
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39.
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beaver away
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To be doing some difficult, tiring work.
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40.
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bed down
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To make person or an animal comfortable
for the night.
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41.
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beef … up
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To make something better, e.g. Control in
the prison was beefed up after the riot.
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42.
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beg off
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To say you cannot do something as agreed.
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43.
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believe in
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To feel sure or accept that something
exists, either good or bad, e.g. He just doesn’t believe in Nessie.
To feel someone can be trusted, e.g. The
children always believe in their father despite adverse
rumours being spread about him.
To have one’s views about something, e.g.
We believe in the equality of the sexes in the workplace.
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44.
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belly out
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To become larger, greater or full.
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45.
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belong to
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To be the property or a member of a group
or organization.
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46.
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belt … out
belt up
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To sing out loud or play a loud tune from
a musical instrument.
To instruct someone bluntly to keep
quiet.
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47.
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bind somebody over
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To restrain someone from causing trouble
under threat of legal punishment.
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48.
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bite back
bite into
bite … off
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To retaliate.
To cut against a surface.
To start using up something, especially
one’s personal savings.
To use the teeth to cut off a piece from
a main part, e.g. He bit off a piece of a pizza and
strangely spat it out.
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49.
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black out
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To faint, e.g. He blacks out whenever
he sees too much blood.
(City, etc.) to turn off all the lights
in a wide area.
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50.
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blank out
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To cover or erase something so it cannot
be seen or recall.
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51.
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blast off
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(Rocket, etc.) to leave the ground.
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52.
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blend in
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To mix or combine something with its
surrounding.
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53.
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block in/out
block … off
block … out
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To make a drawing of something that gives
a general idea but is not exact.
To completely close a place such as a
road, etc.
To prevent light passing through.
To erase, especially a bitter memory.
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54.
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blot … out
blot … up
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To cover or hide something completely.
To wipe surface dry with a cloth or other
absorbent material.
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55.
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blow away
blow down
blow in
blow off
blow … out
blow up
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To shoot someone to death.
To be carried away by the wind, e.g. I
put some comic books outside and the wind blew away a couple
of them into the drain.
To cause something to drop on the ground,
usually by the wind.
To blow air into something with our
mouth.
To treat someone or something as
unimportant, e.g. He blew off his overseas assignments by
not accepting them.
To put out a flame by blowing, e.g. A
strong gust of wind blew out all the candles in the temple when
the keeper opened a window.
(Car) to blow a tyre, e.g. He just
couldn’t figure out what caused a tyreof his car to blow out.
To cease to function, e.g. An electric
bulb blew out suddenly while I was reading.
(Storm) to come to an end, e.g. After a
few hours the storm blew itself out.
(Electricity) to suddenly stop working,
e.g. The fuse of a piece of electrical equipment blows out causing
it to stop working.
To destroy or damage something, e.g. The
explosion blew the shelves right outof the wall.
To be destroyed by an explosion, e.g. A
bomb planted by a saboteur exploded,blowing up a power station.
To make something bigger by forcing air
into it, e.g. He blew up a balloon but it couldn’t get
bigger because it has a tiny hole.
To make a photograph, picture, etc.
larger, e.g. She blew her photograph up so that the mole on
her left cheek is more noticeable.
To become very angry with someone or
something, e.g. Jill’s father immediately blew up when he
read the amount on the telephone bill.
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56.
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blurt … out
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To say something suddenly without
thinking.
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57.
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board … out
board … up
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To pay and arrange for an animal to stay
with someone.
To cover, e.g. a window, with
wooden boards
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58.
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bog down
bog off
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To be too deeply involved in something to
have time to do other thing.
To tell someone to go away.
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59.
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boil away
boil down
boil down to
boil over
boil up
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To heat liquid so much until it
evaporates.
To reduce the quantity of food or liquid
due to cooking.
To edit information so that unnecessary
detail is not included.
To be concerned only with the significant
or essential element, e.g. Her wish to continue living with him despite his
abusive behaviour boils down to her fear of loneliness.
To overflow.
To start losing one’s temper.
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60.
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bomb … out
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To completely destroy a structure.
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61.
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bone up
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To study hard for an examination.
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62.
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book in
book … on
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To check in a hotel.
To make arrangements for someone to
travel on a plane or train.
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63.
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boot … out
boot up
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To dismiss or expel someone, especially
from a job or organization.
To get a computer ready for use.
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64.
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border on
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To be on the verge of, especially on the
verge of tears.
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65.
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bottle out
bottle … up
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To withdraw suddenly from an activity you
are engaged in.
To hide one’s feelings.
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66.
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bottom out
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To stop getting worse, especially prices.
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67.
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bounce back
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To get better or recover, especially from
bad times.
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68.
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bow down
bow out
bow to
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To lower your head slightly by bending
top part of body forward to show respect.
To withdraw from an activity, etc. which
one has been engaged in for a long time.
To accede to a request or demand.
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69.
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bowl along
bowl … out
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To move very quickly, especially in a
vehicle.
To accidentally knock someone down while
dashing.
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70.
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box … in
box … off
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To feel you cannot act or move freely.
To separate a smaller area from a larger
one by partitioning or erecting walls around it.
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71.
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branch off
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(Road, river, etc.) to separate from
another and go in a different direction.
To talk something else which is not
related to what is being discussed, conversed, etc.
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72.
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brave … out
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To deal bravely with something that
causes fear or problem.
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73.
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brazen … out
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To deal confidently with a difficult or
embarrassing situation.
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74.
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break away
break down
break for
break in/into
break off
break out
break through
break up
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To leave a group or political party,
usually due to disagreement, to form their own.
To cry, e.g. He broke down instantly
when informed that his terminally ill mother had passed away in the hospital.
To gain entry, e.g. Firemen had to break the
door down to rescue an elderly occupant from the fire.
(Vehicle, machine, etc.) To stop working,
e.g. A couple of cars broke down in the midst of a traffic
jam, aggravating the situation.
(Negotiation) to fail, e.g. The
negotiation for the exchange of prisoners broke down because
one side remains uncompromising in its demands.
(Total amount) to separate into
individual items or amounts.
To leave whatever you are doing for
lunch, etc.
To forcibly enter a place such as a
building for an illegal purpose, e.g. Thieves broke into an
office building by breaking a window.
To discontinue a relationship, diplomatic
relations, etc., e.g. Both countries broke off diplomatic
relations after one accused the other’s embassy staff of involvement in
espionage.
To separate, especially a piece from a
larger one, e.g. He broke off a piece of bun and threw it
into a pond to feed the fishes.
To escape from a place, e.g. After
he broke out of jail once, he was transferred to a maximum
security prison.
To forcibly go through something, etc.,
e.g. The burglars broke through a wall to gain entry to the
bank safe.
To stop a fight, e.g. They use pails and
buckets full of water, and hose to splash and spray water to break up a
fight between two dogs.
To separate a gathering, e.g. Police
appeared as usual to break up a peaceful demonstration as
expected.
To end a romantic relationship, e.g.
Their relationship broke up after they accused each other of
being selfish.
To cause something to separate into many
small pieces, e.g. Someone brokemy mug up, but no one
owns up.
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75.
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breathe in
breathe out
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To take in air; to inhale.
To send air out from the lungs
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76.
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breeze through
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To finish or complete something easily,
e.g. a task.
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77.
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brew up
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To make a drink of tea.
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78.
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brick … off
brick … up
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To separate an area from a bigger one by
building a wall of bricks.
To fill or close a space by building a
wall of bricks in it.
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79.
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brighten up
brighten … up
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(Sky) to become brighter.
To make something more beautiful or
colourful.
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80.
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brim over
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(A box, container, etc.) to be overfilled
until it cannot be covered.
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81.
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bring about
bring around
bring back
bring … down
bring ... down on
bring … forth
bring … forward
bring in
bring ... on/upon
bring out
bring over
bring ... through
bring ... together
birng ... up
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To cause something to happen, or
introduce new ideas.
To make someone regain consciousness.
To persuade someone to agree.
To revive something that was used
previously, e.g. More and more people are clamouring for capital punishment
to be brought back.
To return with something, especially from
abroad or shop, e.g. He went to a pet shop and brought back a
couple of terrapins.
To make one remember or recall something,
e.g. Listening to these songs brings back fond memories.
To bring bird, plane,
etc. down by shooting.
To stop a government from continuing,
To bring anything high up such as a kite,
helicopter, etc. down to the ground.
To cause something bad to happen to
someone, especially financial ruin.
To display something or make it visible.
To make something happen sooner rather
than later.
To receive an income or earning, e.g. He
works for a large company and brings in a handsome salary.
To include or invite someone to
participate in a discussion,
etc.
To involve someone in something.
To cause something bad to happen to
someone, e.g. heavy rain had brought on landslides.
To produce something;
To make a person display his best/worst
quality.
To move someone or something from where
they are to where one is, e.g. She is bringing her
sister over tonight for a game of cards.
To help someone endure a difficult period
of time.
To assemble two or more people for a
particular purpose.
To raise a question, subject, etc. at a
meeting.
To care for a child until he/she is a
grown-up.
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82.
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bristle with
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To have a lot of or be full of something.
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83.
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broaden out
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To become wider.
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84.
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bruit … abroad
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To spread a report or rumour widely.
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85.
|
brush … aside
brush … down
brush … off
brush up on
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To deliberately ignore something.
To clean clothes or pet animals with a
bush.
To refuse to consider someone’s idea,
opinion, etc. by ignoring them or passing unkind remark, e.g. The police
head brushed the whole thing off when
informed that some people are planning a bank robbery right in the city
centre.
To quickly reread work done previously
that one has forgotten or to improve one’s knowledge, or to practise and
improve on an activity, e.g. I think I’d better brush up on my
singing and resume my singing career.
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86.
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buck for
buck up
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To attempt at achieving something.
To make or become more cheerful.
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87.
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bucket down
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To rain heavily.
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88.
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build … in/into
build on
|
To make or include something as a
permanent part of something else, e.g. He had a safe built into the
wall of his house.
To add an extension to a building in
order to enlarge it.
To improve on something or carry out more
development on it
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89.
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bulk … out
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To treat a product so that it becomes or
appears thicker or bigger or its quantity appears greater than it is, e.g. I
added some potatoes to the stew to bulk it out.
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90.
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bum around/about
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To laze about doing nothing.
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91.
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bump into
bump … off
bump … up
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To meet someone you know by chance, e.g.
I found it amazing when I bumped into my neighbour in a
shopping centre despite it being packed to capacity.
To accidentally knock into someone or
something, e.g. I hurried round the corner of a corridor and
accidentally bumped into a woman carrying drinks on a tray,
knocking them all over the floor.
To murder someone.
To make something larger or appear to be
larger.
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92.
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bundle … off
bundle up
|
To send someone somewhere in a hurry,
e.g. He was handcuffed and bundled off in a police car.
To dress in warm clothes.
To tie things together to form a bundle.
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93.
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bung … up
|
To block something up such as putting
something in a hole.
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94.
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bunk off
|
To leave early and secretly from a place
such as school or work.
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95.
|
burn away
burn down
burn … off
burn out
burn up
burn … up
be burning with
|
To be completely destroyed or greatly
damaged by fire, e.g. The fire burned away all his valuable
personal possessions.
To be destroyed by fire, e.g. The whole
factory was burned down after an explosion.
(Fire) to become weaker, e.g. The
fire burns down as its flame has become weaker and produced
less heat.
To get rid of something by burning it,
e.g. She burnt off all his photos.
To become exhausted through overwork,
e.g. He burned himself out by working three
full days with very little rest and sleep.
To be partially destroyed by fire, e.g.
The fire burnt out the kitchen and the adjoining bedroom.
(Fire) to stop burning, e.g. After three
hours, the fire burnt itself out.
To be completely destroyed by fire or
physical exercises, etc. e.g. The whole building was completely burned
up; physical exercises burn up fat, calories, etc.
To make someone very angry, e.g. It
really burned her up when the boss
disapproved her application for a long leave.
To be entirely possessed by (a desire or
emotion).
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96.
|
burst in on/upon
burst into
burst onto
burst out
|
To interrupt something at an embarrassing
moment.
To intrude into a place suddenly without
thinking.
To suddenly start to cry or burn,
e.g. burst into tears; burst into flames.
To appear suddenly in a location.
To explode outward.
To suddenly begin to cry, laugh, or say
something in an assertive manner, e.g. The audience burst out laughing
when the clown’s trousers suddenly dropped revealing a pair of yellow shorts
with red polka dots.
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97.
|
bust out
bust up
bust … up
|
To escape from a place, especially a
prison.
To separate as lovers, partners, friends
etc;
To disrupt something or prevent it from
continuing; to damage or break up something.
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98.
|
butt in
butt out
|
To interrupt or intrude rudely on a
conversation or activity, e.g. Whenever Jack talked to a girl at the party,
Jill would butt in.
To tell someone to stop interfering.
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99.
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butter … up
|
To flatter someone.
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100.
|
buy in
buy … in
buy into
buy … off
buy … out
buy up
|
To buy something in bulk.
To withdraw something at auction because
it fails to reach the reserve price.
To make partial purchase of a business
with aim to control it; to accept or believe an idea.
To pay someone money to stop them causing
trouble or threatening you.
To pay someone to give up ownership,
interest, or share of a business.
To pay for one’s release from the armed
services.
To buy as much and as quickly as you can
of something.
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Phrasal Verbs
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