Common English Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are one of the most challenging aspects of English for both native and non-native speakers. A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more prepositions or adverbs that creates a meaning completely different from the original verb. Without understanding phrasal verbs, natural English conversation is nearly impossible - they appear in everyday speech, literature, news, and business communication constantly. This deck covers the most commonly used and tested phrasal verbs in English, organized by their base verb (get, take, make, put, turn, come, go, look, bring, run). Each card includes the phrasal verb, its meaning, and an example sentence. Essential for IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge B2/C1/C2 exams, and ESL learners at all levels.
All Cards in This Deck
Question
Get up
Answer
To rise from bed; to stand up. "She gets up at 6 AM every morning to exercise."
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Get over
Answer
To recover from something (illness, disappointment, shock). "It took him months to get over the breakup."
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Get along (with)
Answer
To have a good relationship with someone. "She gets along well with all her colleagues."
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Get away with
Answer
To do something wrong without being punished. "He cheated on the exam and got away with it."
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Get rid of
Answer
To remove or dispose of something unwanted. "We need to get rid of all this old furniture."
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Get through
Answer
To successfully complete something difficult; to contact someone by phone. "I finally got through to customer service after 40 minutes."
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Get back to
Answer
To return to someone with information or a reply. "I'll get back to you with an answer by Friday."
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Take off
Answer
(1) When a plane leaves the ground. (2) To remove clothing. (3) To become suddenly successful. "The business really took off after the viral post."
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Take over
Answer
To gain control of something; to take responsibility from someone else. "A large corporation took over the small family business."
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Take after
Answer
To resemble a parent or relative in appearance or character. "She takes after her father — same smile, same sense of humour."
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Take up
Answer
To start a new hobby or activity; to occupy space or time. "He took up photography during the lockdown."
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Take in
Answer
To understand and absorb information; to deceive someone. "There was so much new information — I couldn't take it all in."
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Make up
Answer
(1) To invent a story or lie. (2) To reconcile after an argument. (3) To apply cosmetics. "They argued last week but made up the next day."
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Make out
Answer
(1) To understand or see something with difficulty. (2) To claim or pretend. "I could barely make out his handwriting."
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Make up for
Answer
To compensate for something bad or missing. "Working overtime this week will make up for taking Thursday off."
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Put off
Answer
To postpone; to cause someone to lose interest or enthusiasm. "The meeting has been put off until next week."
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Put up with
Answer
To tolerate something unpleasant without complaining. "I can't put up with this noise any longer."
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Put forward
Answer
To suggest or propose an idea or plan. "She put forward an excellent proposal at the board meeting."
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Put down
Answer
(1) To set something on a surface. (2) To criticize or humiliate someone. (3) To record in writing. "He always puts his staff down in front of clients."
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Turn up
Answer
(1) To arrive, especially unexpectedly. (2) To increase volume or heat. "He turned up late to his own wedding."
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Turn down
Answer
(1) To refuse or reject an offer. (2) To lower volume or heat. "She turned down the job offer despite the high salary."
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Turn out
Answer
To result in a particular way; to prove to be. "The event turned out to be a huge success."
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Come across
Answer
To find or meet someone/something by chance; to make an impression. "I came across an old photo album in the attic."
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Come up with
Answer
To think of an idea or solution. "We need to come up with a plan by tomorrow morning."
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Come down to
Answer
To be the essential factor or main point. "In the end, it all comes down to how much effort you put in."
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Go through
Answer
To experience something difficult; to examine something carefully. "She went through a very tough time after losing her job."
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Go off
Answer
(1) When food spoils. (2) When an alarm sounds. (3) To explode. "The alarm went off at 3 AM and woke the whole street."
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Go over
Answer
To review or examine carefully. "Let's go over the contract one more time before signing."
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Look into
Answer
To investigate or research something. "The police are looking into the matter."
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Look up to
Answer
To admire and respect someone. "She has always looked up to her older sister."
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Look forward to
Answer
To feel excited and happy about something in the future. "I'm really looking forward to the summer holidays."
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Bring up
Answer
(1) To raise a child. (2) To mention a topic in conversation. "It's never a good time to bring up politics at dinner."
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Bring about
Answer
To cause something to happen. "The new law brought about significant changes in working conditions."
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Run out of
Answer
To have no more of something left. "We've run out of coffee — I'll get some from the shop."
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Run into
Answer
To meet someone unexpectedly; to encounter a problem. "I ran into my old school teacher at the supermarket."
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Break down
Answer
(1) When a machine stops working. (2) To lose emotional control. (3) To analyze in detail. "The car broke down on the motorway."
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Break through
Answer
To overcome an obstacle; to make an important discovery. "Scientists finally broke through in their cancer research."
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Carry on
Answer
To continue doing something. "Carry on with your work — I'll be back in ten minutes."
Question
Carry out
Answer
To complete or perform a task or plan. "The surgery was successfully carried out by a team of specialists."
Question
Set up
Answer
To establish or organize something; to arrange equipment. "She set up her own business at the age of 25."