Instructions for mastering Phrasal Verbs:

• Read/Listen all example sentences and note the underlined phrasal verbs.
• Practice saying each sentence 4-5 times aloud.
• Look up the same underlined phrasal verb in a Dictionary and note the sample sentences (do not look up a different one).
• Cambridge Dictionary

Phrasal verbs starting with O:

1. (infml) I shouldn’t have done it. I own up (confess or admit that I am to blame; confess fully).

Phrasal verbs starting with P:

1. (infml) The engine backed up on the way, and we had to leave the car behind. (stopped, failed).
2. (infml) If you don’t like this job, you may as well pack up. (leave it).
3. The crisis/the storm/soon passed (away).
4. He sat for the exam and passed out top with 580 marks out of 600.
5. It’s not as easy as you think to patch up their quarrel. (settle, end).
6. (infml) If you don’t pay up, they’ll take you to court. [pay them (in full) money that you’re under some obligation or pressure to pay].
7. We have gone there after dark, but I could pick out his house easily.
8. She could easily pick him out in the crowd. He’s quite tall, you know (distinguish him from surrounding people).
9. She had asked me to pick her up at the beauty parlour on my way back. (collect, go and get).
10. The police have picked up the main suspect. I hear. (found and arrested, taken into custody).
11. I picked him up outside the town hall and dropped him off in front of the Library. (took him as a passenger, collect, gave a lift to).
12. (infml) He liked a girl he saw at the Post Office. He picked her up. (met her and made her acquaintance deliberately).
13. He speaks French. He picked the up when he was with our Paris office. (learnt the the language – casually and without any special study or systematic lessons).
14. This shirt? I picked it up at a sale. I got really cheap. (bought it).
15. At last, our sales are picking up! (Improving, recovering).
16. Let’s pick up (from) where we left off. (continue, start again).
17. (infml) Doctor, is that patient picking up? (improving, recovering).
18. Where do you pick up these rumours? (hear, get).
19. In this job, I have to go around picking up bits of information, news, stories...
20. (infml) He was just trying to play down his part in the decision. (try to make it appear or treat it as less important than it really is).
21. (infml) Keep those magazines away – the boss may pop in on his way out.
22. It was those tablets that pulled him through. (helped him recover from a serious illness or injury).
23. She was afraid she’d fail the exam, but her tutor prepared her thoroughly and pulled her through. (helped her avoid failing the exam).
24. He has pulled through. They’re discharging him (from hospital) in a day or two. [recovered (from a serious injury or illness) or survived a period of danger].
25. He pulled himself up from the chair and walked to the door.
26. He pulled the car up at a petrol station. (stopped).
27. Then a car pulled up at the corner, and somebody got out. (stopped).
28. A car pulled up alongside (mine).
29. I know the subject inside out. But I’m not good at putting myself across to others. (communicate or explain things successfully).
30. He puts off people when they come to see him at home. He wants them to meet him only at his office. (discourages or prevents them from seeing).
31. Don’t be put off by his behavior. He’s really a good man at heart. (be annoyed or offended by).
32. He started behaving in a wild and uncontrolled way, and the pilot put him off the plane. (compelled him to get off).
33. Driver, can you put me off here? (allow me to get off the bus or get out of the car).
34. Can you turn the radio off? The sound is putting me off (my work). (distracting or disturbing).
35. (infml) The maths teacher seems to be a hopeless incompetent, and she’s too strict with students. She has put my son off (caused him to lose interest in, or liking for).
36. The meeting has been put off until February. (postponed).
37. She saw him lying asleep on the floor and she put a blanket over
38. We’ve put through a deal with an American company. (completed).
39. We didn’t have much money. Even so my father managed to put me through (provided for me and made it possible for me to go to university and complete a course of study).
40. They will put me up at their guest house. After all, I’ll be there only for a week. (provide me with food and lodging).
41. At the next election, let’s put a woman up for President. (propose, nominate).
42. When’s the election to the governing body? He’s putting (himself) up this time, (offering himself as a candidate for the election).
43. Can you put me up a snack or something? I’m feeling hungry. (prepare and give me).
44. We’ll have to put up some new kitchen shelves.
45. They’re planning to put up a new bridge across the river. (build).
46. They’ve agreed to put up the capital for the new project. (lend).
47. They have put up the price again. At this price, we can’t afford to buy the car. (increase, raised).
48. My mother put up a picnic lunch for me, and I carried it in my shoulder bag. (prepared and gave me).
49. This is my first visit to Dallas. I’m planning to put up with a friend of mine. (take food and lodging, stay).
50. I’m sorry I played that dirty trick on you. You (encouraged me to do it).
51. How can you put up with living in such a dirty house?
52. (infml) I can’t put up with him. He has too high an opinion of himself. (tolerate, bear).

Phrasal verbs starting with R:

1. I asked him if he had learnt the poem by heart, and he rattled it off flat out. (said or repeated it quickly and without pausing to think).
2. I want to read up a few more details before the discussion begins. Let’s go to the library. (find out a few more details by reading).
3. He’s more up-to-date than me. You see, he reads up on all the developments in our field. (Improves his knowledge of these developments by reading).
4. (infml) I asked him who his close friends were, and he reeled off a dozen names. (say or tell without pause or effort).
5. (infml) I’m from poor family and we have very little money. Everybody knows these things. But do you have to rub it in? (remind me of it repeatedly).
6. We can’t rule out a price revision, you know. (dismiss, say that a price revision is impossible or cannot be considered).
7. A lot of wax had a run down from the candle.
8. He looks run down. It must be the strain at work. (exhausted and in poor condition, tired and weak).
9. Run down to your uncle’s place in the car and fetch him, will you?
10. The truck ran down a young girl, and she died on the spot. (knock her to the ground).
11. He’s always running down my job. (criticizing and saying unkind things about, belittles).
12. My boss runs me down for the slightest thing. (criticizes me, and says unkind things about me; belittles me).
13. The police ran him down in Bombay, and brought him back to Delhi. (located him at last – after a long search).
14. When did your driving license run out? (expire, become no longer valid).
15. Our sugar has run out. Can you go out and buy some? (finished, exhausted).
16. We were running out of time on the programme, but the chief guest kept on speaking.
17. The car has run out of oil.
18. We’re running out of writing paper. You must go to the stationer’s today. (our supply of it is coming to an end).
19. (infml) He was run in last night, I don’t know what the charge is. (arrested and taken to the police station).
20. This is a new car, isn’t it? Don’t drive it too fast for some time. What you must do is, you must run it in. (prepare its engine by driving it slowly and carefully, until it covers a certain distance).

Phrasal verbs starting with S:

1. He’s the only person who’ll be able to see us through this bad patch. (support us during; see us safely through).
2. (infml) Don’t worry. We’ll see the thing (continue what we’re doing and bring it to a successful or happy conclusion).
3. They were standing in the way, and I couldn’t see through
4. (infml) He couldn’t fool her. She saw through (understand his true nature – which was different from the pleasant or deceptive appearance).
5. That’s an opaque window. You can’t see through
6. Then he set off for the office.
7. The children set off for school.
8. We set off early in the morning. (began our journey).
9. Don’t remind her about it. That’ll set her off crying again. (cause her to start).
10. The slightest spark will set off the fireworks. So be careful. (cause them to explode).
11. There was some news that he was going to resign and his news set off a lot of rumours. (caused a lot of rumours to begin).
12. (infml) Nobody likes her, because she is always showing off. (displaying or drawing attention to her own knowledge, ability, wealth, etc. – in order to impress people).
13. She thinks her son is a child prodigy or something, and loves to show him off. [display or draw people’s attention to him – because she feels (too) proud].
14. How long can he keep on pretending? One of these days, he’ll show himself up for what he really is! (reveal that he’s inferior, unpleasant, untrustworthy, unworthy, etc.).
15. (infml) Look, Sandra, I never thought you’d behave like that and show me up in public. (make me feel embarrassed by behaving badly in public).
16. He hasn’t showed up at the office yet.
17. (infml) We’re waiting for the chief guest. I don’t know when he’s going to show up. (arrive, appear).
18. You had better shut him up. Others are listening. (make him stop talking).
19. (infml) Oh, shut up. can’t you? (stop talking; stop making a noise; be quiet).
20. (infml) I’ve slipped up badly. I should have submitted our quotation today. Today was the last day, you know. (made a careless mistake).
21. If you have any objections, you must speak out.
22. He hasn’t been speaking out publicly for fear of losing his job.
23. Don’t be afraid to speak up. (express your opinion, tell the truth, etc.).
24. Speak up, will you? I can’t hear you.
25. There’s a nail sticking out of from the wall.
26. Our workers are all right, But the union leaders are stirring them up, you see. (exciting them to action).
27. They’re not interested in football, you know. You’ll have to stir them up a bit. (do something to get them interested in).
28. (infml) He’s always stirring up trouble among the workers. (provoking or causing trouble).
29. She summed him up quickly as a coward. (considered him, and formed a judgment or opinion of him.)

Phrasal verbs starting with T:

1. (infml) You know, accommodation is very difficult to find nowadays. Anyway, I’ll ask my next-door neighbour if he would care to take you in. (allow you to live in his house for payment).
2. We take in photocopying, our rates are quite reasonable, you know. (accept this work for payment, and do it in our house).
3. He took in the room and the things in it at a glance. (saw and noticed).
4. Look, I can’t take in a word of what you’re saying. Can you explain it in simpler language, please? (take into the mind and understand).
5. Don’t be taken in by this smooth salesman. (fooled; deceived).
6. She takes sewing in, and makes money to live on. (carried things to be sewn to her house and does the sewing there for payment).
7. These trousers are too loose. Can you take them in a little at the waist? (make them narrower in width).
8. Cotton wool can take in
9. He wanted to start his own business, But the idea never took off. and he decided instead to get into politics.
10. Our business will take off in a year’s time. (begin to improve).
11. He jumped in the car, and the car took off down the street.
12. I don’t know when the flight is going to take off. (leave the ground).
13. (infml) I couldn’t meet him. He took off for Bombay immediately after the meeting. (left in a hurry).
14. The plane took off when the fog lifted.
15. The aeroplane crashed soon after taking off.
16. He then took the handbrake off and drove off.
17. He took the handle off the door. (remove it or separate it from the door it’s attached to)
18. Last night’s rain has taken most of the new whitewash off the compound walls. (removed).
19. Cut off 75% of the fat that you eat now. You’ll be able to take all the surplus weight off you in a few months. (reduce your weight by the amount mentioned).
20. I think this is the best time to buy fans. Most of the manufacturers have taken 3 to 5% off the prices. (reduced the prices by that amount).
21. You need rest. You have been ill, remember. You must take a few weeks off from work. (have a break for this much time from work).
22. He took his shirt off. (removed it).
23. (infml) He can take his boss off (imitiate the boss – for amusement or to make him appear foolish).
24. That plane is taking off for Delhi.
25. I didn’t like the way he tried to take over the whole meeting.
26. My secretary is taken ill. You’ll have to take over. (take charge of her duties, responsibilities, etc.)
27. I took over the company from my father. He retired last year. (come into the management, control ownership, etc.).
28. I want to talk the matter over with my wife before I make a decision. (talk about it fully and seriously).
29. (infml) I didn’t want to eat, but she talked me round. (persuaded me to eat by talking to me – and by getting round my initial reluctance or opposition).
30. I haven’t talked things over with him yet. Give me a ring later.
31. The teacher told them off for talking in class.
32. (infml) I was a bit late today, and the Office Manager told me off for it. (scolded me; spoke angrily to me – saying that what I had done was wrong; criticized or blamed me).
33. No, it’s not a bad offer, of course. But I need some time to think it over (consider it carefully – before deciding or acting).
34. He thought up of a very convincing excuse on the spur of the moment. (invented; created it in his mind).
35. Somebody opened the window, and threw out a bucket of water.
36. This electric heater throws out a lot of heat, doesn’t it? (is the source of).
37. He didn’t like my talking to his sister, and he threw out a warning to me. (gave it in a casual or indirect way).
38. Stop interrupting me when I’m trying to add up figures. You know, you may throw me out. (cause me to make a mistake).
39. They threw out my suggestion without even considering it. (dismissed it; rejected it).
40. (infml) He has been arrested. Somebody must have tipped off the police that he was hiding there. (secretly informed or warned).
41. (infml) Look at those marks and scratches. Touch them up with a bit of paint. (improve the appearance of the surface by using paint).
42. He said he could drive very well. So we thought of trying him out – before taking him on as our driver. (testing his ability).
43. Let's try him out for a month. Let's see if he’s well-behaved and polite. (test his character).
44. Never buy a second-hand car without trying it out. (testing it to see if it works well).
45. The screening committee turned him down because he was under age. (rejected him).
46. The music is too loud – turn it down, will you?
47. (infml) They found him to be corrupt and turned him out of his job. (forced him to leave).
48. The painting he bought turned out to be a fake.
49. He turned out his briefcase, but he couldn’t find the bill. (emptied it).
50. It's late – turn out the lights and go to bed. (switch them off).
51. Turn out that lamp. Oil is too costly nowadays, you know. (cause it to stop burning).
52. They turned down the suggestion.
53. It was a great match. Hundreds of people turned out to watch it. (came out or were present – in large numbers).
54. I saw your son’s teacher today. She said he was turning out very well. (progressing or developing – in the way mentioned).
55. I’m not satisfied with the quality of the tables and chairs your carpenters turn out. (produce; manufacturer).
56. This institute turns out about 25 fitters, 30 electricians and 20 plumbers every year. (trains).
57. Luckily, everything turned out right in the end.
58. The information turned out to be false.
59. His predictions turned out to be correct
60. His daughter turned to hate mathematics.
61. Opportunities like this would only turn up once in a blue moon. (happen; present themselves).
62. I don’t know when the guests are going to turn up. I’ve been expecting them from this morning (arrive or appear).
63. Our cashier has been missing for a few days now. He hasn't turned up either at his house or anywhere else till now. (been found).

Phrasal verbs starting with W:

1. The clowns performed a few funny tricks and warmed up the audience before the circus began. (made them lively and interested).
2. This milk has gone cold. Can you warm it up, please? (make it become warm).
3. (infml) He started his speech with an anecdote – a very amusing one. And the audience warmed up. (became lively).
4. When the drug wore off, she suffered a reaction.
5. (infml) The novelty for the new car soon wore off. (disappeared).
6. (infml) Long journeys really wear me out. (make me very tired).
7. I’ve worn my running shoes out. I’ve got to buy another pair. (made it useless through long, constant or hard use or handling).
8. Don’t buy cheap shoes. They wear out (become useless from long, constant or hard use or handling).
9. Look, my patience has begun to wear out. (be used up completely).
10. They haven’t been able to weigh up their new boss yet. It’s only a week since he’s taken charge of the office, you know. (form an opinion about him).
11. I was weighing up whether we must open our new office in Bombay or in Bangalore. (considering alternative, possibilities, etc. – before choosing one of them or making a decision).
12. It was no easy matter to win them over to our side. (to persuade them to agree with us – or to be on our side).
13. Our branch in Mumbai has been making a big losses for some time now. We’re thinking of winding it up. (settle its affairs and close it).
14. (infml) He summed up his main points and wound up his argument. (brought it to an end; closed it).
15. I can work this debt off in about 3 months time. (repeat it by working).
16. (infml) Take some exercise regularly. That’ll help you work that extra fat off. (get rid of it – by this form of activity).
17. Sometimes he behaves in very strange ways. You know, I’ve never been able to work him out. (understand him; make sense of him).
18. I’ve been trying to work out how much the repairs will cost. (calculate).
19. I’ve five problems to do for homework. I can’t work out any of them. (solve).
20. They had been trying to work out a plan to rob a bank. (think of and make; event; devise).
21. We have to work out the plan in detail.
22. Go and work out at the gym every day. That’ll help you keep fit. (take physical exercise and train the body).
23. The plan/idea didn’t work out very well.
24. I know he’s from Europe, but I can’t work out whether he’s from Germany or any other country there.
25. (infml) They’re in America, you know. Life is working out well for them there. (developing in the way mentioned).
26. His pension works out at Rs. 3650 a month. (amounts to the sum of money mentioned; is calculated as that sum).
27. They’ve worked up a good market for their products. (gradually built or developed it).
28. They’re planning to work up their business further. (gradually increase or extend it).
29. We’ll have to work up some other way of dealing with the situation.
30. If you want to work up an appetite, the best way is to go for a brisk walk. (stimulate; develop).
31. You spoke very well. I liked the way you worked up to the climax. (moved towards; developed or progress towards).
32. He started off with the easy questions and worked up to the difficult ones. (got ready to do them).
33. He started as an office boy and worked his way up to become general manager.
34. (infml) You can’t write her off just because she’s lost one game. (think of her as no good; decide that she won’t win).
35. They had written him off as a failure – but he became a very successful businessman. (decide that he won’t be successful).
36. You won’t be able to recover those debts. You’ll have to write them off. (treat them as money lost).
37. There’s no point in trying to get the car repaired. The accident has done so much damage to it. I’ve written it off. (decided to treat it as of no value or as not worth repairing).
38. Their marriage has been a complete failure. You can write it off. (treat it as unsuccessful; treat it as a failure and beyond recovery).
39. The rioting cannot be written off as an isolated incident.
40. I’ve collected all the data. Now I’ll have to analyze them and write them up. (rewrite them in an organized way – by giving a fuller account of them).