PHRASAL VERBS

HELPFUL HINTS IN TIMES OF HELP

(An Except from The Invisible Teacher by Dele Ashade)

The following list include phrasal verbs (PH), their meanings and helpful examples in sentences

1. Add up

   Meaning: to add e.g. I can add up all the figures at a time

2. Back up

   Meaning: to support or move backwards e.g. The man backed up his accusation with evidence

3. Break down

   Meaning: to analyse or list the parts separately e.g. The accountant was called to give a break down of the company’s income so far

4. Break into

   Meaning: go into a room, e.g. Some burglars who were fully harmed broke into the man house last night;

   OR to cause something to happen e.g. I broke into laughter when I heard my name fron the list

   OR to begin e.g. When shall we break into writing?

5. Bring off

   Meaning: to accomplish or succeed in e.g. The soldiers has given their comforting message that they will bring off the reduction of the victimization caused insurgents in our country

6. Count in

   Meaning: to include e.g. ShallI count in these guys for the competition?

7. Count out

   Meaning: to exclude e.g. The boy was counted out due to his sluggishness

8. Count up

   Meaning: to count or add to a total e.g. The sales girl counted all the items I bought and gave be receipts of payment

9. Cut off

   Meaning: to interrupt e.g. The electricity in the office was cut off unduly

   OR to amputate e.g. due to the damaged caused by the effect of the road accident,

10. Light up: to illuminate well e.g. The sun lights up the earth like other phenomenon

11. Keep up

    Meaning: to continue e.g. My dad advised me to keep up the good work

12. Leave out

    Meaning: to omit e.g. Sola was left out during the party

13. Let down

    Meaning: to disappoint e.g. He promised that he would not let his supporters down

14. See off

    Meaning: to accompany a person to the beginning of a journey e.g. I saw my dad off to the airport

15. Send back

    Meaning: to send to a former place e.g. The spoilt child was sent back to his parents

16. Send over

    Meaning: to send to where another person is e.g. I will send Bukade over to you for the preparation

17. Wash off

    Meaning: to wash the surface of e.g. Oladele washed off the dining table after the meal

18. Wash out

    Meaning: to wash the inside of e.g. He ordered her to wash out all the dirts in the abandoned store

19. Wind up

    Meaning: to finish, complete or conclude e.g. Please wind up the work before I come back

20. Drop out of

    Meaning: to quit or leave e.g. Segun dropped out of Secondary school after his father’s incident

21. Face up to

    Meaning: to accept or acknowledge e.g. Bolaji faced up to his fate after her mother’s demise

22. Fall behind

    Meaning: to lag or not to make progress as expected e.g. The boy fell behind because he was absent from school for more than four weeks

23. Come by

    Meaning: to visit someone in their home e.g. I came by one of my old friend during the long vacation

24. Come out

    Meaning: to appear especially for the first time e.g. His album came out after the audition

25. Come over

    Meaning: to come to where one is e.g. My sister came over to our place after her schooling in Port-Harcourt

26. Come through

    Meaning: to succeed e.g. All his efforts to become the SUG President did not come through

27. Get off

    Meaning: to leave or descend from e.g. The carpenter has gotten off the roof before the house collapse

28. Get on

    Meaning: to mount or enter e.g. Get on! The driver shouted

29. Get on with

    Meaning: proceed with e.g. I will get on with my efforts to win the prize, no matter what you say

30. Pick on

    Meaning: to bully, tease or taunt e.g. The boys in my class always pick on the girls anyhow

31. Play up to

    Meaning: to flatter someone to achieve personal satisfaction e.g. The politicians played up to his achievements, as the election began

32. Put up with

    Meaning: to tolerate e.g. Most of the citizens have refused to put up with the politicians and their false promises#

33. Go on

    Meaning: to continue or happen e.g. The elections will go on despite the mishap

34. Go out

    Meaning: to stop burning e.g. the fire has not gone out when the careless cook left the kitchen

35. Go over

    Meaning: to succeed e.g. The School’s Football team went over in the last Proprietors and Proprietaries Cup Competition

36. Hang around

    Meaning: to be idle or to delay e.g. Some street urchins hang around the street corners to beg for alms

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

     

    Is this really helpful?

    Please tell us how you feel about this.