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B2 phrasal verbs

B2

Less literal and more abstract: bringing about, ruling out, making up for.

319 phrasal verbs

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All B2 phrasal verbs

The whole list in one place: what each verb means, how it takes an object, similar words and example sentences.

  • bring about

    Separable · bring (something) about

    cause something to happen

    Mots proches: cause, lead to

    • The reform may bring about real change.
    • Technology has brought huge changes about.

  • bring in

    Separable · bring (something or someone) in

    introduce a rule, product or worker

    Mots proches: introduce

    • The company will bring in new software.
    • The government brought a new law in.

  • bring out

    Separable · bring (something) out

    make a quality more noticeable, or release a product

    Mots proches: release, highlight

    • The edit can bring out the contrast.
    • The band will bring out a new album in June.

  • bring down

    Separable · bring (something) down

    make something lower, or cause a government or leader to fall

    Mots proches: reduce, topple

    • The new tax could bring down prices.
    • The scandal brought the minister down.

  • bring forward

    Separable · bring (something) forward

    move an event to an earlier time

    Mots proches: advance

    • They brought the meeting forward to Monday.
    • The election was brought forward by a month.

  • set back

    Separable · set (someone or something) back

    delay progress, or cost someone an amount of money

    Mots proches: delay, hinder

    • Bad weather set the project back by two weeks.
    • That repair set me back three hundred pounds.

  • set off (cause)

    Separable · set (something) off

    make something start or happen, such as an alarm or a reaction

    Mots proches: trigger, cause

    • Burnt toast set off the smoke alarm.
    • His comment set the argument off.

  • lead up to

    Inseparable · lead up to (something)

    come before and prepare the way for an event

    Mots proches: precede

    • What led up to the argument?
    • In the weeks leading up to the exam, she revised daily.

  • give rise to

    Inseparable · give rise to (something) · formal

    cause something, often something unexpected

    Mots proches: cause, produce

    • The speech gave rise to a heated debate.
    • Poor diet can give rise to health problems.

  • result in

    Inseparable · result in (something)

    cause a particular result

    Mots proches: lead to, cause

    • The accident resulted in long delays.
    • Poor planning resulted in higher costs.

  • account for

    Inseparable · account for (something)

    explain the reason for something, or make up a part of a total

    Mots proches: explain, make up

    • Weather may account for the poor turnout.
    • Rent accounts for half of her income.

  • come down to

    Inseparable · come down to (something)

    depend mainly on one key point

    Mots proches: boil down to

    • The choice may come down to price.
    • In the end, it comes down to trust.

  • put down to

    Separable · put (something) down to (something)

    explain something as being caused by something

    Mots proches: blame on, attribute to

    • They put the delay down to traffic.
    • I put his mood down to tiredness.

  • pan out

    No object · pan out · informal

    develop or turn out in a particular way

    Mots proches: work out, turn out

    • Let's see how things pan out.
    • The plan didn't pan out as we hoped.

  • work out (develop)

    No object · work out

    develop in a good way, or succeed

    Mots proches: succeed, turn out well

    • I hope the plan will work out.
    • Things worked out well in the end.

  • back up (support)

    Separable · back (something or someone) up

    support a claim with evidence, or support a person

    Mots proches: support, confirm

    • The data should back up her argument.
    • My colleague backed me up in the meeting.

  • back up (copy)

    Separable · back (something) up

    make a spare copy of computer files

    Mots proches: copy, save

    • Remember to back up your files.
    • I back my photos up every week.

  • rule out

    Separable · rule (something) out

    decide that something is impossible or unsuitable

    Mots proches: exclude, eliminate

    • Doctors must rule out infection first.
    • The police have not ruled anyone out.

  • stand for

    Inseparable · stand for (something)

    represent or mean something, or support an idea

    Mots proches: represent, mean

    • The letters stand for a health service.
    • I will not stand for rudeness.

  • stand up for

    Inseparable · stand up for (someone or something)

    defend someone or something that is being criticised

    Mots proches: defend, support

    • You must stand up for your rights.
    • She stood up for her friend in the meeting.

  • stand up to

    Inseparable · stand up to (someone)

    refuse to be treated badly by someone powerful

    Mots proches: confront, resist

    • He finally stood up to his boss.
    • It takes courage to stand up to a bully.

  • speak out

    No object · speak out (against something)

    say publicly what you think, especially about a problem

    Mots proches: speak up, protest

    • Many workers spoke out against the changes.
    • She is not afraid to speak out.

  • argue out

    Separable · argue (something) out

    discuss something fully until you reach agreement

    Mots proches: thrash out, debate

    • They argued the details out over dinner.
    • Let's argue out the plan before we vote.

  • hammer out

    Separable · hammer (something) out

    reach agreement after long and difficult discussion

    Mots proches: negotiate

    • Negotiators tried to hammer out a deal.
    • They hammered the terms out in three days.

  • win over

    Separable · win (someone) over

    persuade someone to support you

    Mots proches: persuade, convince

    • Her speech won the critics over.
    • He won over the whole team.

  • talk into

    Separable · talk (someone) into (something)

    persuade someone to do something

    Mots proches: persuade, convince

    • She talked me into joining the gym.
    • Don't let him talk you into it.

  • talk out of

    Separable · talk (someone) out of (something)

    persuade someone not to do something

    Mots proches: dissuade, discourage

    • We talked him out of quitting.
    • She tried to talk me out of it.

  • come round

    No object · come round (to something) · mostly British

    change your opinion and agree

    Mots proches: change your mind

    • He will come round to our idea in time.
    • She came round after a long talk.

  • opt out

    No object · opt out (of something)

    choose not to take part in something

    Mots proches: withdraw, back out

    • You can opt out of the scheme at any time.
    • Some parents opted out of the trip.

  • sign off

    Separable · sign (something) off

    approve something officially, or end a letter or broadcast

    Mots proches: approve, finish

    • The manager signed off the budget.
    • I'll sign the report off today.

  • put forward

    Separable · put (something) forward

    suggest an idea or plan for discussion

    Mots proches: propose, suggest

    • She put forward a new idea.
    • Several candidates were put forward.

  • put across

    Separable · put (something) across

    explain your ideas clearly so people understand

    Mots proches: convey, express

    • He puts his ideas across well.
    • It is hard to put across what I feel.

  • play down

    Separable · play (something) down

    make something seem less important or serious than it is

    Mots proches: downplay, minimise

    • The company tried to play down the problem.
    • She played her injury down.

  • play up

    Separable · play (something) up

    make something seem more important or serious

    Mots proches: emphasise, exaggerate

    • The advert plays up the low price.
    • He played his role up.

  • read into

    Inseparable · read into (something)

    find a meaning in something that may not be there

    Mots proches: over-interpret

    • Don't read too much into one comment.
    • She read a threat into his words.

  • touch on

    Inseparable · touch on (a subject)

    mention a subject briefly

    Mots proches: mention, refer to

    • The speaker only touched on the cost.
    • We touched on the issue in class.

  • go into

    Inseparable · go into (a subject)

    discuss or examine something in detail

    Mots proches: examine, explore

    • I don't want to go into the details now.
    • The report goes into the causes of the crisis.

  • follow up on

    Inseparable · follow up on (something)

    take further action after something

    Mots proches: pursue, check on

    • The doctor will follow up on the test results.
    • I'll follow up on your email tomorrow.

  • follow through

    No object · follow through (on something)

    complete an action you started or promised

    Mots proches: complete

    • She never follows through on her promises.
    • The company must follow through with its plan.

  • go through with

    Inseparable · go through with (something)

    complete something even though you have doubts

    Mots proches: carry out

    • She decided to go through with the plan.
    • He couldn't go through with the wedding.

  • weigh up

    Separable · weigh (something) up

    think carefully about the good and bad points of something

    Mots proches: assess, consider

    • You should weigh up the options.
    • He weighed the risks up before deciding.

  • size up

    Separable · size (someone or something) up

    form an opinion about a person or situation

    Mots proches: assess, judge

    • She sized the new manager up quickly.
    • The coach sized up the other team.

  • narrow down

    Separable · narrow (something) down

    reduce the number of choices

    Mots proches: reduce, limit

    • The panel will narrow down the list tomorrow.
    • We narrowed the options down to three.

  • mull over

    Separable · mull (something) over

    think about something for a long time

    Mots proches: ponder, think over

    • I need time to mull this over.
    • She mulled over the offer for a week.

  • settle for

    Inseparable · settle for (something)

    accept something that is less than you wanted

    Mots proches: accept, make do with

    • We had to settle for a smaller flat.
    • I won't settle for second best.

  • settle on

    Inseparable · settle on (something)

    decide on one choice after thinking

    Mots proches: decide on, choose

    • They finally settled on a name.
    • We settled on a date in June.

  • plump for

    Inseparable · plump for (something) · mostly British

    choose one thing from several options

    Mots proches: choose, opt for

    • I plumped for the fish.
    • She plumped for the cheaper hotel.

  • opt for

    Inseparable · opt for (something)

    choose something from a number of possibilities

    Mots proches: choose, select

    • Most people opt for the cheaper plan.
    • He opted for early retirement.

  • take on (employ)

    Separable · take (someone) on

    employ someone, or agree to do a job

    Mots proches: hire, employ

    • The firm will take on three designers.
    • They took two apprentices on.

  • take on (responsibility)

    Separable · take (something) on

    accept a task or responsibility

    Mots proches: accept, undertake

    • She took on extra work.
    • I can't take any more projects on.

  • take over

    Separable · take (something) over

    take control or responsibility

    Mots proches: assume control of

    • The new coach will take over next month.
    • A larger firm took the shop over.

  • step down

    No object · step down

    leave an important position

    Mots proches: resign, quit

    • The chair may step down in June.
    • He stepped down as manager.

  • step up

    Separable · step (something) up

    increase the amount or speed of something, or accept more responsibility

    Mots proches: increase, intensify

    • The police stepped up patrols.
    • Everyone must step up now.

  • stand in for

    Inseparable · stand in for (someone)

    do someone's job for a short time while they are away

    Mots proches: cover for, replace

    • I'm standing in for the manager this week.
    • She stood in for him at the meeting.

  • stand down

    No object · stand down

    leave a position or give up a role

    Mots proches: resign, withdraw

    • The captain decided to stand down.
    • He stood down in favour of a younger candidate.

  • lay off

    Separable · lay (someone) off

    end someone's job because there is not enough work

    Mots proches: dismiss, make redundant

    • The factory laid off 200 workers.
    • They laid him off in March.

  • phase out

    Separable · phase (something) out

    gradually stop using something

    Mots proches: withdraw, discontinue

    • The school will phase out paper forms.
    • They are phasing the old model out.

  • phase in

    Separable · phase (something) in

    introduce something gradually

    Mots proches: introduce gradually

    • The new system will be phased in over a year.
    • They phased in the changes slowly.

  • roll out

    Separable · roll (something) out

    introduce a new product or service step by step

    Mots proches: launch, introduce

    • The bank will roll out the app next month.
    • They rolled the scheme out nationwide.

  • scale back

    Separable · scale (something) back

    reduce the size or amount of something

    Mots proches: reduce, cut back

    • The company had to scale back its plans.
    • They scaled production back.

  • cut back

    No object · cut back (on something)

    spend or use less of something

    Mots proches: reduce, economise

    • We need to cut back on spending.
    • The firm cut back last year.

  • crack down on

    Inseparable · crack down on (something)

    take strict action against something

    Mots proches: clamp down on

    • The city will crack down on illegal parking.
    • Police are cracking down on speeding.

  • clamp down on

    Inseparable · clamp down on (something)

    act firmly to stop something bad

    Mots proches: crack down on, restrict

    • The government plans to clamp down on tax fraud.
    • Schools are clamping down on phones.

  • iron out

    Separable · iron (something) out

    solve small problems

    Mots proches: resolve, settle

    • We need to iron out the final details.
    • They ironed the difficulties out.

  • sound out

    Separable · sound (someone) out

    ask someone's opinion in an informal way

    Mots proches: consult

    • The director will sound out the team first.
    • I'll sound her out about the idea.

  • run by

    Separable · run (something) by (someone)

    tell someone your idea so they can give an opinion

    Mots proches: check with

    • Let me run this by my boss first.
    • Can I run an idea by you?

  • get down to

    Inseparable · get down to (something)

    begin to give serious attention to something

    Mots proches: start, begin

    • Let's get down to business.
    • I'll get down to work after lunch.

  • get round to

    Inseparable · get round to (something)

    finally find time to do something

    Mots proches: find time for

    • I never get round to sorting my files.
    • He hasn't got round to calling her yet.

  • set about

    Inseparable · set about (something)

    begin doing something in a determined way

    Mots proches: start, begin

    • She set about cleaning the whole house.
    • How do you set about learning a language?

  • see to

    Inseparable · see to (something)

    deal with something that needs attention

    Mots proches: deal with, attend to

    • I'll see to the dinner.
    • Can you see to the guests?

  • fill in for

    Inseparable · fill in for (someone)

    do someone else's job for a time

    Mots proches: cover for

    • Can you fill in for me on Friday?
    • He filled in for the teacher.

  • draw up

    Separable · draw (something) up

    prepare a document or plan in writing

    Mots proches: prepare, draft

    • The lawyer drew up a contract.
    • They drew a list up.

  • put in

    Separable · put (something) in

    spend time or effort on something, or make a formal request

    Mots proches: invest, submit

    • She put in a lot of effort.
    • He put in a request for leave.

  • put aside

    Separable · put (something) aside

    keep something for later, or ignore a feeling for now

    Mots proches: save, set aside

    • I put some money aside each month.
    • Let's put aside our differences.

  • set aside

    Separable · set (something) aside

    keep time or money for a special purpose

    Mots proches: reserve, put aside

    • She set aside an hour to study.
    • We set money aside for repairs.

  • pass down

    Separable · pass (something) down

    give knowledge or objects to younger people

    Mots proches: hand down

    • The recipe was passed down from my grandmother.
    • He passed the farm down to his son.

  • sell out

    No object · sell out

    sell all of something, so there is none left

    Mots proches: run out

    • Tickets sold out in an hour.
    • The shop sold out of bread.

  • rip off

    Separable · rip (someone) off · informal

    charge someone far too much money

    Mots proches: cheat, overcharge

    • The taxi driver ripped us off.
    • Don't buy there, they rip off tourists.

  • shop around

    No object · shop around

    compare prices in different shops before buying

    Mots proches: compare prices

    • It pays to shop around for insurance.
    • We shopped around before buying the sofa.

  • stock up on

    Inseparable · stock up on (something)

    buy a large supply of something

    Mots proches: buy in bulk

    • We stocked up on water before the storm.
    • She stocks up on tea every autumn.

  • trade in

    Separable · trade (something) in

    give an old item as part of the payment for a new one

    Mots proches: exchange

    • He traded in his old car.
    • I traded my phone in for a newer one.

  • write off

    Separable · write (something) off

    accept that something is lost or has no value, or destroy a vehicle

    Mots proches: cancel, abandon

    • The bank wrote off the debt.
    • He wrote his car off in the crash.

  • cash in on

    Inseparable · cash in on (something)

    use a situation to make money or gain an advantage

    Mots proches: profit from, exploit

    • Many companies cash in on the holiday season.
    • He tried to cash in on her fame.

  • make up for

    Inseparable · make up for (something)

    compensate for something bad or missing

    Mots proches: compensate for

    • Extra practice can make up for lost time.
    • I'll make up for the mistake.

  • live up to

    Inseparable · live up to (something)

    be as good as people expected

    Mots proches: meet, match

    • The film did not live up to the reviews.
    • She lived up to her reputation.

  • measure up

    No object · measure up (to something)

    be good enough for a standard

    Mots proches: reach the standard

    • The new player didn't measure up.
    • Does the product measure up to its rivals?

  • face up to

    Inseparable · face up to (something)

    accept and deal with a difficult fact

    Mots proches: accept, confront

    • Leaders must face up to the cost.
    • He had to face up to his mistakes.

  • fall back on

    Inseparable · fall back on (something)

    use something as a reserve when other things fail

    Mots proches: rely on, resort to

    • We can fall back on the old system.
    • She had her savings to fall back on.

  • get away with

    Inseparable · get away with (something)

    avoid punishment for something

    Mots proches: escape punishment for

    • He should not get away with cheating.
    • You won't get away with that excuse.

  • brush up on

    Inseparable · brush up on (something)

    improve knowledge by reviewing it

    Mots proches: revise, refresh

    • I need to brush up on conditionals.
    • She is brushing up on her French before the trip.

  • carry on with

    Inseparable · carry on with (something)

    keep going with something you were doing

    Mots proches: continue, go on with

    • We will carry on with the interview.
    • Please carry on with your work.

  • pull out of

    Inseparable · pull out of (something)

    withdraw from an activity or agreement

    Mots proches: withdraw from

    • The sponsor might pull out of the event.
    • Two teams pulled out of the contest.

  • wear off

    No object · wear off

    gradually disappear

    Mots proches: fade

    • The pain should wear off soon.
    • The excitement wore off after a week.

  • drag on

    No object · drag on

    continue for too long in a boring or tiring way

    Mots proches: go on, last too long

    • The meeting dragged on for hours.
    • The trial dragged on for months.

  • dwell on

    Inseparable · dwell on (something)

    think or talk about something for too long

    Mots proches: brood over, linger on

    • Don't dwell on your mistakes.
    • She kept dwelling on the past.

  • fall behind

    No object · fall behind (with something)

    fail to keep up with others or with a schedule

    Mots proches: lag behind

    • He fell behind with his rent.
    • Don't fall behind in class.

  • fall for

    Inseparable · fall for (someone or something)

    fall in love with someone, or be tricked by something

    Mots proches: be fooled by

    • She fell for his charm.
    • I can't believe you fell for that trick.

  • fend off

    Separable · fend (something) off

    defend yourself from an attack or a difficult question

    Mots proches: ward off, repel

    • The minister fended off tough questions.
    • He fended the dog off with a stick.

  • fight back

    No object · fight back

    defend yourself or reply to an attack

    Mots proches: retaliate, resist

    • The team fought back in the second half.
    • She fought back tears.

  • fizzle out

    No object · fizzle out

    end weakly after a promising start

    Mots proches: peter out, die out

    • The protest fizzled out by evening.
    • Their enthusiasm fizzled out.

  • hold back

    Separable · hold (someone or something) back

    stop someone from moving forward, or keep feelings under control

    Mots proches: restrain, stop

    • Fear holds him back.
    • She couldn't hold back her tears.

  • hold off

    Separable · hold (something) off

    delay doing something, or keep an attack away

    Mots proches: delay, resist

    • Let's hold off until we know more.
    • The rain held off all day.

  • hold out

    No object · hold out

    continue to resist or last despite difficulty

    Mots proches: last, endure

    • The town held out for weeks.
    • How long can the supplies hold out?

  • keep from

    Inseparable · keep from (doing something)

    stop yourself from doing something

    Mots proches: refrain from, avoid

    • I couldn't keep from laughing.
    • She tried to keep from crying.

  • live down

    Separable · live (something) down

    make people forget something embarrassing you did

    Mots proches: get past

    • He will never live down that mistake.
    • She couldn't live the shame down.

  • look back on

    Inseparable · look back on (something)

    think about the past

    Mots proches: reflect on, recall

    • I often look back on my school days.
    • She looked back on her career with pride.

  • miss out

    No object · miss out (on something)

    lose a chance to enjoy or gain something

    Mots proches: lose out

    • Don't miss out on this offer!
    • I felt I was missing out.

  • plug away

    No object · plug away (at something) · informal

    keep working at something slowly and steadily

    Mots proches: persevere, keep at it

    • She plugged away at her thesis.
    • We just have to plug away.

  • pull off

    Separable · pull (something) off

    succeed in doing something difficult

    Mots proches: achieve, manage

    • The team pulled off a surprise win.
    • I can't believe we pulled it off.

  • pull through

    No object · pull through

    survive a serious illness or difficult time

    Mots proches: recover, survive

    • The doctors think she will pull through.
    • The firm pulled through the crisis.

  • pull together

    No object · pull together

    work as a team to reach a goal

    Mots proches: cooperate

    • If we pull together, we can finish on time.
    • The village pulled together after the flood.

  • shrug off

    Separable · shrug (something) off

    treat something as unimportant

    Mots proches: dismiss, brush off

    • He shrugged off the criticism.
    • She shrugged the injury off.

  • scrape by

    No object · scrape by

    manage to live or pass with great difficulty

    Mots proches: get by, just manage

    • They scrape by on a small income.
    • He scraped by in the exam.

  • see through

    Inseparable · see through (someone or something)

    realise someone is lying or that something is false

    Mots proches: detect, not be fooled by

    • I saw through his excuse at once.
    • She can see through any disguise.

  • work off

    Separable · work (something) off

    get rid of something by physical effort

    Mots proches: burn off

    • He went running to work off his anger.
    • I'm trying to work off the holiday weight.

  • work up to

    Inseparable · work up to (something)

    prepare for something difficult by building up slowly

    Mots proches: build up to

    • She is working up to a marathon.
    • I need to work up to asking for a raise.

  • wind down

    No object · wind down

    relax after work, or gradually reduce activity

    Mots proches: relax, unwind

    • I wind down with a book in the evening.
    • The business is winding down.

  • get at

    Inseparable · get at (something)

    mean something, or reach something with difficulty

    Mots proches: imply, reach

    • What are you getting at?
    • The books on the top shelf are hard to get at.

  • look up to

    Inseparable · look up to (someone)

    respect and admire someone

    Mots proches: admire, respect

    • I look up to my older sister.
    • Children look up to their teachers.

  • look out for

    Inseparable · look out for (someone or something)

    be alert to notice something, or take care of someone

    Mots proches: watch for, keep an eye out for

    • Look out for a red door.
    • Friends look out for each other.

  • come between

    Inseparable · come between (people)

    damage the relationship between two people

    Mots proches: divide, separate

    • Money came between the brothers.
    • Don't let anything come between you.

  • come down with

    Inseparable · come down with (an illness)

    become ill with something

    Mots proches: catch, fall ill with

    • She came down with the flu.
    • Half the class has come down with a cold.

  • go down with

    Inseparable · go down with (an illness) · mostly British

    begin to suffer from an illness

    Mots proches: catch

    • I think I'm going down with a cold.
    • He went down with food poisoning.

  • rub off on

    Inseparable · rub off on (someone)

    pass a quality from one person to another

    Mots proches: influence

    • Her confidence rubbed off on the team.
    • I hope his good habits rub off on me.

  • take to

    Inseparable · take to (someone or something)

    begin to like someone or something

    Mots proches: warm to, like

    • The children took to their teacher at once.
    • He took to cycling quickly.

  • take aback

    Separable · take (someone) aback

    surprise or shock someone

    Mots proches: shock, startle

    • Her answer took me aback.
    • We were taken aback by the price.

  • take in

    Separable · take (someone) in

    trick someone, or understand something fully

    Mots proches: deceive, absorb

    • The salesman took them in with a clever story.
    • It was too much to take in.

  • let on

    No object · let on (that something is true) · informal

    tell people something that was meant to be secret

    Mots proches: reveal

    • She never let on that she was ill.
    • Don't let on to anyone.

  • level with

    Inseparable · level with (someone) · informal

    be honest with someone

    Mots proches: be frank with

    • I'll level with you: it's a risk.
    • He levelled with his team about the problem.

  • stick up for

    Inseparable · stick up for (someone) · informal

    defend someone who is being criticised

    Mots proches: defend, stand up for

    • She stuck up for her brother.
    • Always stick up for your friends.

  • reach out

    No object · reach out (to someone)

    contact someone to offer or ask for help

    Mots proches: contact, get in touch

    • Don't be afraid to reach out for help.
    • The charity reached out to local families.

  • turn to

    Inseparable · turn to (someone or something)

    go to someone or something for help

    Mots proches: seek help from

    • Who can you turn to in a crisis?
    • He turned to drink after the divorce.

  • turn away

    Separable · turn (someone) away

    refuse to let someone enter or receive help

    Mots proches: refuse, reject

    • The club turned them away at the door.
    • The shelter never turns anyone away.

  • win back

    Separable · win (something) back

    get something again that you lost

    Mots proches: regain

    • He is trying to win back her trust.
    • The party won the seat back.

  • settle in

    No object · settle in

    become comfortable in a new place or job

    Mots proches: adjust

    • How are you settling in?
    • It took a month to settle in at the new school.

  • shake up

    Separable · shake (something) up

    make big changes to an organisation

    Mots proches: reorganise, overhaul

    • The new boss plans to shake up the department.
    • They shook the team up.

  • pin down

    Separable · pin (someone or something) down

    find out exactly what something is, or force someone to be clear

    Mots proches: identify, define

    • I can't pin down what is wrong.
    • It's hard to pin him down on a date.

  • piece together

    Separable · piece (something) together

    slowly understand something from small bits of information

    Mots proches: reconstruct

    • Detectives pieced together what happened.
    • She pieced the story together from letters.

  • sort through

    Inseparable · sort through (things)

    look at things one by one to organise or find something

    Mots proches: go through

    • He sorted through the old boxes.
    • I need to sort through my emails.

  • think up

    Separable · think (something) up

    invent an idea or excuse

    Mots proches: invent, devise

    • She thought up a clever plan.
    • He thought an excuse up.

  • jot down

    Separable · jot (something) down

    write something quickly and briefly

    Mots proches: note down

    • Let me jot down your number.
    • She jotted a few ideas down.

  • come through

    No object · come through

    arrive as expected, or do what was needed in a difficult situation

    Mots proches: deliver, arrive

    • The money finally came through.
    • Our team came through in the final.

  • come forward

    No object · come forward

    offer to help or give information

    Mots proches: volunteer, step forward

    • Police asked witnesses to come forward.
    • Nobody came forward to claim the bag.

  • break through

    No object · break through

    overcome a barrier, or achieve an important success

    Mots proches: advance, succeed

    • Scientists have broken through in cancer research.
    • The sun broke through the clouds.

  • break away

    No object · break away (from something)

    leave a group or country to become independent

    Mots proches: separate, leave

    • Some members broke away from the party.
    • She broke away from the crowd.

  • build up

    Separable · build (something) up

    increase or develop something gradually

    Mots proches: increase, develop

    • He built up a successful business.
    • Traffic builds up in the evening.

  • call for

    Inseparable · call for (something)

    need something or ask publicly for it

    Mots proches: require, demand

    • The situation calls for action.
    • Many people are calling for a change.

  • call on

    Inseparable · call on (someone)

    formally ask someone to do something, or visit them briefly

    Mots proches: urge, visit

    • The mayor called on residents to stay calm.
    • I'll call on you tomorrow.

  • carry over

    Separable · carry (something) over

    move something to a later time or place

    Mots proches: transfer

    • You can carry over unused holiday days.
    • Some old habits carried over into the new year.

  • catch out

    Separable · catch (someone) out · mostly British

    show that someone has made a mistake or is lying

    Mots proches: trap, expose

    • The teacher caught him out with a tricky question.
    • Don't let them catch you out.

  • check up on

    Inseparable · check up on (someone or something)

    find out if someone is doing the right thing or is well

    Mots proches: monitor

    • I'll check up on my grandmother tonight.
    • He keeps checking up on us.

  • chip in

    No object · chip in · informal

    give some money or help, together with others

    Mots proches: contribute

    • We all chipped in for the gift.
    • Everyone chipped in to clean up.

  • cover up

    Separable · cover (something) up

    hide the truth about something bad

    Mots proches: conceal, hide

    • The company tried to cover up the mistake.
    • They covered the scandal up.

  • filter out

    Separable · filter (something) out

    remove unwanted things from a larger group

    Mots proches: remove, screen out

    • The software filters out spam.
    • You need to filter the noise out.

  • give off

    Separable · give (something) off

    send out a smell, light, heat or feeling

    Mots proches: emit, produce

    • The flowers give off a sweet smell.
    • He gives off an air of confidence.

  • go in for

    Inseparable · go in for (something)

    enter a competition, or enjoy a particular activity

    Mots proches: enter, take part in

    • She decided to go in for the race.
    • I don't go in for horror films.

  • make for

    Inseparable · make for (a place)

    move towards a place, or help to produce a result

    Mots proches: head for, contribute to

    • We made for the nearest café.
    • Good friends make for a happy life.

  • make out

    Separable · make (something) out

    see or hear something with difficulty, or understand it

    Mots proches: distinguish, understand

    • I could barely make out the words.
    • I can't make his handwriting out.

  • make off with

    Inseparable · make off with (something) · informal

    steal something and leave quickly

    Mots proches: steal, run off with

    • A thief made off with her bag.
    • They made off with the cash.

  • open up (business)

    No object · open up

    start a new business, or become available

    Mots proches: start, launch

    • A new café opened up on my street.
    • New markets are opening up.

  • pick up (improve)

    No object · pick up

    get better, or increase

    Mots proches: improve, recover

    • Sales are picking up again.
    • The weather should pick up tomorrow.

  • pour out

    Separable · pour (something) out

    tell someone all your feelings or problems

    Mots proches: express, unburden

    • She poured her heart out to her friend.
    • He poured out his troubles.

  • push back

    Separable · push (something) back

    move an event to a later time

    Mots proches: postpone, delay

    • They pushed back the deadline.
    • The launch has been pushed back to May.

  • ring up

    Separable · ring (someone) up · mostly British

    make a telephone call to someone

    Mots proches: call, phone

    • I'll ring you up tonight.
    • She rang up the hotel.

  • round off

    Separable · round (something) off

    finish something in a pleasant or suitable way

    Mots proches: finish, complete

    • We rounded off the evening with coffee.
    • He rounded the speech off with a joke.

  • round up

    Separable · round (something) up

    gather people or things together, or raise a number to the next whole number

    Mots proches: gather, collect

    • The teacher rounded up the children.
    • Police rounded the suspects up.

  • rush into

    Inseparable · rush into (something)

    do something quickly without thinking carefully

    Mots proches: act hastily

    • Don't rush into marriage.
    • He rushed into the deal.

  • send off

    Separable · send (someone or something) off

    post something, or order a player to leave the pitch

    Mots proches: post, dismiss

    • I'll send off the application today.
    • The referee sent him off.

  • set in

    No object · set in

    begin and seem likely to continue

    Mots proches: begin, take hold

    • Winter has set in.
    • Doubt began to set in.

  • sit in on

    Inseparable · sit in on (something)

    attend a meeting or lesson without taking part

    Mots proches: observe, attend

    • Can I sit in on your class?
    • She sat in on the meeting.

  • snap up

    Separable · snap (something) up

    buy or take something quickly because it is a bargain

    Mots proches: grab, seize

    • Shoppers snapped up the cheap tickets.
    • She snapped the flat up.

  • stay on

    No object · stay on

    remain in a place or job longer than planned

    Mots proches: remain

    • He stayed on after the others left.
    • I'd like to stay on until June.

  • stumble on

    Inseparable · stumble on (something)

    find something by chance

    Mots proches: come across, chance upon

    • We stumbled on a lovely beach.
    • She stumbled on the answer by accident.

  • swear by

    Inseparable · swear by (something)

    trust something completely because it works well for you

    Mots proches: rely on, recommend

    • My mum swears by herbal tea.
    • Many cooks swear by this knife.

  • take off (succeed)

    No object · take off

    become successful or popular quickly

    Mots proches: become popular, boom

    • Her business really took off.
    • The new app took off in a week.

  • tell apart

    Separable · tell (things or people) apart

    see the difference between two similar things

    Mots proches: distinguish

    • I can't tell the twins apart.
    • It is hard to tell the two brands apart.

  • throw in

    Separable · throw (something) in

    add something extra without charging more

    Mots proches: include, add

    • The shop threw in a free case.
    • They threw breakfast in for free.

  • tide over

    Separable · tide (someone) over

    help someone through a difficult short period

    Mots proches: support

    • This money should tide us over until payday.
    • A snack will tide you over until dinner.

  • tone down

    Separable · tone (something) down

    make something less strong or extreme

    Mots proches: soften, moderate

    • She toned down her language.
    • Please tone the colours down.

  • trip up

    Separable · trip (someone) up

    make someone fall or make a mistake

    Mots proches: catch out, cause to stumble

    • Difficult questions tripped him up.
    • Be careful not to trip up on the stairs.

  • wade through

    Inseparable · wade through (something)

    work slowly through something long or dull

    Mots proches: plough through

    • I had to wade through hundreds of emails.
    • She waded through the legal papers.

  • water down

    Separable · water (something) down

    make something weaker or less effective

    Mots proches: dilute, weaken

    • The council watered down the plan.
    • They watered the proposal down.

  • come up with

    Inseparable · come up with (something)

    think of an idea or plan

    Mots proches: think of, devise

    • We need to come up with a better title.
    • She came up with a clever solution.

  • run down (criticise)

    Separable · run (someone or something) down

    criticise someone or something unkindly

    Mots proches: criticise, belittle

    • Don't run your team down in public.
    • He is always running down his own work.

  • put up (accommodate)

    Separable · put (someone) up

    let someone stay at your home for a short time

    Mots proches: accommodate, host

    • Can you put me up for the night?
    • They put up all the guests.

  • put up (raise)

    Separable · put (something) up

    build something, or raise a price or a notice

    Mots proches: raise, erect

    • They put up a tent by the river.
    • The shop put its prices up.

  • back down

    No object · back down

    stop insisting on a demand or opinion

    Mots proches: give in, yield

    • The landlord backed down after the tenants complained.
    • Neither side would back down.

  • back off

    No object · back off

    stop pressuring someone, or move away

    Mots proches: leave alone, retreat

    • The guard told the crowd to back off.
    • Back off and let me think.

  • bear with

    Inseparable · bear with (someone)

    be patient with someone while they do something

    Mots proches: be patient with

    • Please bear with me for a moment.
    • Bear with us while we fix the problem.

  • burn out

    No object · burn out

    become extremely tired because of working too hard

    Mots proches: exhaust yourself

    • She burned out after years of long hours.
    • Teachers can burn out quickly.

  • carry through

    Separable · carry (something) through

    complete a plan or task successfully

    Mots proches: complete, see through

    • She carried the reform through.
    • He carried through his promise.

  • cave in

    No object · cave in

    collapse inwards, or finally give way to pressure

    Mots proches: collapse, give in

    • The roof caved in under the snow.
    • He caved in to their demands.

  • check into

    Inseparable · check into (a hotel or clinic)

    register on arrival at a hotel or clinic

    Mots proches: register at

    • They checked into a small hotel.
    • He checked into a clinic for a week.

  • chase up

    Separable · chase (something or someone) up · mostly British

    contact someone to remind them to do something

    Mots proches: follow up

    • I'll chase up the payment.
    • She chased the supplier up.

  • come off

    No object · come off

    succeed, or become separated from something

    Mots proches: succeed, detach

    • The plan didn't come off.
    • The handle came off in my hand.

  • come up against

    Inseparable · come up against (something)

    meet a problem or opponent you have to deal with

    Mots proches: encounter, face

    • We came up against strong opposition.
    • She came up against a lot of problems.

  • cut in on

    Inseparable · cut in on (someone)

    interrupt someone who is talking or dancing

    Mots proches: interrupt

    • He cut in on their conversation.
    • Don't cut in on me.

  • dig up

    Separable · dig (something) up

    remove something from the ground, or discover hidden facts

    Mots proches: unearth, uncover

    • The dog dug up a bone.
    • Reporters dug up some old secrets.

  • do away with

    Inseparable · do away with (something)

    get rid of something

    Mots proches: abolish, eliminate

    • The school did away with uniforms.
    • It's time to do away with old rules.

  • end in

    Inseparable · end in (something)

    have a particular final result

    Mots proches: result in

    • The match ended in a draw.
    • Their argument ended in tears.

  • flesh out

    Separable · flesh (something) out

    add detail to an idea or plan

    Mots proches: elaborate, expand

    • She fleshed out the outline.
    • We need to flesh the proposal out.

  • get back at

    Inseparable · get back at (someone) · informal

    punish someone who has hurt you

    Mots proches: take revenge on

    • He wanted to get back at his brother.
    • She got back at him with a joke.

  • give way

    No object · give way (to something)

    let others go first, or collapse under pressure

    Mots proches: yield, collapse

    • You must give way at the junction.
    • The floor gave way under him.

  • go back on

    Inseparable · go back on (something)

    fail to keep a promise

    Mots proches: break, retract

    • He went back on his word.
    • Don't go back on the deal.

  • hand down

    Separable · hand (something) down

    give something to someone younger or less senior

    Mots proches: pass down

    • The judge handed down a sentence.
    • She handed her dresses down to her cousin.

  • hook up

    Separable · hook (something) up

    connect a machine or device to a system

    Mots proches: connect, link

    • The engineer will hook up the printer.
    • They hooked the house up to the internet.

  • keep up

    Separable · keep (something) up

    continue something at the same level

    Mots proches: maintain, sustain

    • Keep up the good work!
    • She kept her studies up all year.

  • knock off

    Separable · knock (something) off · informal

    stop working, or reduce a price

    Mots proches: finish, deduct

    • We knock off at five.
    • The shop knocked ten pounds off.

  • lag behind

    No object · lag behind

    move or develop more slowly than others

    Mots proches: fall behind, trail

    • The runner lagged behind the others.
    • Our sales lag behind last year's.

  • lie in

    No object · lie in · mostly British

    stay in bed later than usual

    Mots proches: sleep in

    • I like to lie in on Sundays.
    • He lay in until ten.

  • mark down

    Separable · mark (something) down

    reduce the price of something

    Mots proches: reduce, discount

    • The shop marked down all winter coats.
    • They marked the shoes down by half.

  • pick over

    Inseparable · pick over (something)

    examine a number of things carefully to choose the best

    Mots proches: sort through

    • She picked over the fruit.
    • Customers picked over the clothes.

  • play along

    No object · play along (with someone)

    pretend to agree so as to avoid trouble

    Mots proches: go along

    • I decided to play along with his joke.
    • She played along for a while.

  • point to

    Inseparable · point to (something)

    show or suggest that something is true

    Mots proches: indicate, suggest

    • All the evidence points to one answer.
    • Early results point to a win.

  • pop up

    No object · pop up · informal

    appear suddenly or unexpectedly

    Mots proches: appear, crop up

    • A message popped up on my screen.
    • New cafés keep popping up.

  • put through

    Separable · put (someone) through

    connect someone by telephone, or make them experience something hard

    Mots proches: connect, subject to

    • I'll put you through to the manager.
    • They put us through a lot.

  • rattle off

    Separable · rattle (something) off

    say or recite something quickly from memory

    Mots proches: reel off

    • She rattled off the names of all the capitals.
    • He rattled the list off.

  • ring back

    Separable · ring (someone) back · mostly British

    telephone someone who called you earlier

    Mots proches: call back

    • I'll ring you back in ten minutes.
    • Can you ring back later?

  • run through

    Inseparable · run through (something)

    practise or read something quickly from beginning to end

    Mots proches: rehearse, go over

    • Let's run through the presentation once more.
    • She ran through the list of names.

  • sail through

    Inseparable · sail through (something)

    pass or do something very easily

    Mots proches: breeze through

    • He sailed through the exam.
    • She sailed through the interview.

  • see about

    Inseparable · see about (something)

    arrange or deal with something

    Mots proches: arrange

    • I'll see about getting tickets.
    • She went to see about a new passport.

  • sink in

    No object · sink in

    be fully understood or realised

    Mots proches: register

    • The news took a while to sink in.
    • It hasn't sunk in yet that I won.

  • snap out of

    Inseparable · snap out of (something) · informal

    suddenly stop feeling a bad mood or state

    Mots proches: shake off

    • Snap out of it, things aren't that bad.
    • She snapped out of her gloom.

  • stir up

    Separable · stir (something) up

    cause trouble or strong feelings

    Mots proches: provoke, cause

    • He likes to stir up trouble.
    • The speech stirred old fears up.

  • think through

    Separable · think (something) through

    consider all the details and results of something

    Mots proches: consider carefully

    • You need to think this through.
    • They thought through every option.

  • throw together

    Separable · throw (something) together · informal

    make something quickly with little planning

    Mots proches: improvise

    • I threw together a quick supper.
    • She threw an outfit together.

  • tuck in

    No object · tuck in · mostly British

    start eating with enthusiasm

    Mots proches: dig in

    • Tuck in, everyone, before it gets cold.
    • The children tucked in to their pizza.

  • wander off

    No object · wander off

    walk away from a place without a clear purpose

    Mots proches: stray

    • The toddler wandered off in the shop.
    • Don't wander off from the group.

  • whip up

    Separable · whip (something) up

    make something quickly, or stir up strong feelings

    Mots proches: prepare quickly, stir up

    • She whipped up a quick omelette.
    • The speaker whipped the crowd up.

  • set down

    Separable · set (something) down

    put something on a surface, or record it in writing

    Mots proches: put down, record

    • She set down her bag and sighed.
    • The rules are set down in the contract.

  • look on

    No object · look on

    watch something happen without taking part

    Mots proches: watch, stand by

    • Crowds looked on as the parade passed.
    • He could only look on while they argued.

  • break apart

    No object · break apart

    split into separate pieces, or stop being together

    Mots proches: fall apart, split

    • The ship broke apart in the storm.
    • The band broke apart after one album.

  • bring round

    Separable · bring (someone) round · British

    help someone wake up, or change their opinion

    Mots proches: revive, win over

    • The nurse brought him round with cold water.
    • It took hours to bring my father round to the idea.

  • bring on

    Separable · bring (something) on

    cause an illness or a problem to start

    Mots proches: trigger, cause

    • Stress can bring on a headache.
    • The cold weather brought her cough on.

  • cut through

    Inseparable · cut through (something)

    go through something by the quickest way

    Mots proches: take a shortcut through

    • We cut through the park to save time.
    • The boat cut through the waves.

  • work around

    Inseparable · work around (a problem)

    find a way to deal with a problem without solving it

    Mots proches: get round, bypass

    • We found a way to work around the bug.
    • You can work around the limit by using two accounts.

  • run across

    Inseparable · run across (something / someone)

    find or meet something by chance

    Mots proches: come across, stumble on

    • I ran across my old diary in the attic.
    • She ran across a rare book at the market.

  • run down (lose power)

    No object · run down

    lose power or energy gradually

    Mots proches: lose power, weaken

    • My phone battery ran down on the train.
    • He felt run down after weeks of overwork.

  • run up

    Separable · run (a debt or a bill) up

    let a debt or bill grow bigger

    Mots proches: accumulate, rack up

    • He ran up a huge phone bill.
    • Students often run debts up without noticing.

  • make into

    Separable · make (something) into (something else)

    change something so that it becomes something else

    Mots proches: turn into, convert

    • They made the barn into a studio.
    • She made the story into a short film.

  • make do

    No object · make do (with something)

    manage with what you have, even if it is not enough

    Mots proches: get by, improvise

    • We had to make do with one room.
    • You'll just have to make do until the shops open.

  • pass along

    Separable · pass (something) along

    give information or an object to the next person

    Mots proches: hand on, relay

    • Please pass along my thanks to your team.
    • She passed the message along to her boss.

  • pass up

    Separable · pass (something) up

    decide not to take a chance or offer

    Mots proches: turn down, decline

    • I couldn't pass up such a good offer.
    • He passed the job up to stay near home.

  • pull apart

    Separable · pull (something) apart

    separate something by force

    Mots proches: tear apart, separate

    • Two guards had to pull the fighters apart.
    • He pulled apart the radio to see how it worked.

  • pull back

    No object · pull back

    move backwards, or decide not to go on with something

    Mots proches: withdraw, retreat

    • The army pulled back from the border.
    • The company pulled back at the last minute.

  • pull down

    Separable · pull (a building) down

    destroy a building on purpose

    Mots proches: demolish, knock down

    • They plan to pull down the old cinema.
    • Workers pulled the wall down in a day.

  • hang back

    No object · hang back

    stay behind because you feel shy or unsure

    Mots proches: hold back, hesitate

    • Shy children often hang back at parties.
    • She hung back while the others went in.

  • call in

    Separable · call (someone) in

    ask a person or a group to come and help

    Mots proches: summon, bring in

    • They called in an expert to look at the roof.
    • The manager called the police in.

  • call out

    Separable · call (someone) out

    ask someone to come to a place, or say something loudly

    Mots proches: summon, shout

    • The fire service was called out twice last night.
    • A man called out my name across the street.

  • check over

    Separable · check (something) over

    look at something carefully to see that it is correct

    Mots proches: examine, go over

    • Please check your essay over before you hand it in.
    • A mechanic checked over the car.

  • check through

    Inseparable · check through (something)

    look at every part of something in order

    Mots proches: go through, look through

    • I checked through the list twice.
    • She checked through her bag but found nothing.

  • throw back

    Separable · throw (something) back

    return something by throwing it

    Mots proches: return, toss back

    • He caught the fish and threw it back.
    • Throw back the ball, please.

  • keep back

    Separable · keep (something) back

    not tell or share something

    Mots proches: withhold, hold back

    • She kept back part of the truth.
    • The bank kept some of his money back.

  • keep to

    Inseparable · keep to (something)

    follow a rule or a plan exactly

    Mots proches: stick to, adhere to

    • Please keep to the speed limit.
    • We should keep to the original plan.

  • carry away

    Separable · carry (someone) away

    make someone so excited that they lose control

    Mots proches: transport, overexcite

    • I got carried away and spent too much.
    • The music carried the crowd away.

  • talk round

    Separable · talk (someone) round · British

    persuade someone to change their mind

    Mots proches: win over, bring round

    • It took an hour to talk him round.
    • She talked her mother round in the end.

  • back away

    No object · back away

    move backwards because you are afraid or want distance

    Mots proches: retreat, recoil

    • The dog growled and I slowly backed away.
    • The company backed away from the deal.

  • settle up

    No object · settle up

    pay what you owe

    Mots proches: pay up, square up

    • Let's have lunch, then settle up.
    • We settled up with the landlord before leaving.

  • stick at

    Inseparable · stick at (something)

    keep working at something that is difficult

    Mots proches: persevere with, keep at

    • If you stick at it, you will improve.
    • He stuck at his studies for years.

  • sit through

    Inseparable · sit through (something)

    stay until the end of something boring

    Mots proches: endure, sit out

    • We had to sit through a long speech.
    • I couldn't sit through the whole film.

  • think ahead

    No object · think ahead

    make plans for what may happen later

    Mots proches: plan ahead, look ahead

    • Good travellers think ahead.
    • You should think ahead before you sign a contract.

  • let off

    Separable · let (someone) off

    not punish someone, or give a light punishment

    Mots proches: pardon, excuse

    • The officer let him off with a warning.
    • The teacher let us off homework this weekend.

  • step back

    No object · step back

    move away from a situation to see it more clearly

    Mots proches: take a step back, distance yourself

    • Sometimes you need to step back and think.
    • She stepped back from the project after the baby was born.

  • grow apart

    No object · grow apart

    slowly stop being close to someone

    Mots proches: drift apart

    • The two friends grew apart after university.
    • They grew apart as their interests changed.

  • add on

    Separable · add (something) on

    include an extra item or amount

    Mots proches: include, tack on

    • The hotel adds on a service charge.
    • They added a small fee on.

  • aim at

    Inseparable · aim at (something)

    point something towards a target, or have a goal

    Mots proches: target, intend

    • The campaign is aimed at teenagers.
    • He aimed at the target and fired.

  • answer back

    No object · answer back

    reply rudely to someone in authority

    Mots proches: talk back

    • Don't answer back to your teacher.
    • The boy answered back and was sent out.

  • black out

    No object · black out

    lose consciousness for a short time

    Mots proches: faint, pass out

    • She blacked out in the heat.
    • He blacked out for a few seconds after the fall.

  • bounce back

    No object · bounce back

    recover quickly after a failure or illness

    Mots proches: recover, rebound

    • The team bounced back after a bad start.
    • Children bounce back from colds very fast.

  • branch out

    No object · branch out (into something)

    start doing something new, especially in work

    Mots proches: diversify, expand

    • The bakery is branching out into coffee.
    • She branched out and began to write songs.

  • brighten up

    Separable · brighten (something) up

    make a place or a mood happier or lighter

    Mots proches: liven up, cheer up

    • Some flowers would brighten up the room.
    • A bit of sun brightened the day up.

  • burst into

    Inseparable · burst into (something)

    suddenly start to cry, laugh or sing

    Mots proches: break into, erupt into

    • She burst into tears when she heard the news.
    • The class burst into laughter.

  • cancel out

    Separable · cancel (something) out

    stop the effect of something by having an opposite one

    Mots proches: offset, neutralise

    • The good news cancelled out the bad.
    • Her gains cancelled his losses out.

  • dive in

    No object · dive in

    start doing something eagerly, without much thought

    Mots proches: jump in, plunge in

    • Don't dive in before you read the rules.
    • He dived in and started cooking.

  • do over

    Separable · do (something) over · mainly American

    do something again from the beginning

    Mots proches: redo, repeat

    • This essay is so bad I must do it over.
    • He asked to do over the test.

  • dream up

    Separable · dream (something) up

    invent an idea or plan, often an unusual one

    Mots proches: invent, think up

    • Who dreamed up this crazy scheme?
    • She dreamed a new game up for the kids.

  • dry up

    No object · dry up

    lose all water, or come to an end

    Mots proches: run dry, wither

    • The river dried up in summer.
    • Work dried up after the factory closed.

  • fade away

    No object · fade away

    slowly become weaker until it disappears

    Mots proches: vanish, die away

    • The music faded away as we left.
    • His hopes slowly faded away.

  • feel up to

    Inseparable · feel up to (something)

    feel strong or well enough to do something

    Mots proches: be fit for

    • I don't feel up to a party tonight.
    • Do you feel up to a long walk?

  • fight off

    Separable · fight (something) off

    defend yourself against an attack or an illness

    Mots proches: repel, resist

    • She managed to fight off the flu.
    • The soldiers fought the enemy off.

  • fix up

    Separable · fix (something) up

    repair or improve a place, or arrange something

    Mots proches: do up, arrange

    • They fixed up the old farmhouse.
    • Can you fix me up with a hotel room?

  • flip through

    Inseparable · flip through (something)

    turn pages quickly without reading all of them

    Mots proches: leaf through, skim

    • I flipped through the magazine at the dentist's.
    • She flipped through the photo album.

  • freak out

    No object · freak out · informal

    become very frightened or upset

    Mots proches: panic, lose your cool

    • Don't freak out, it's only a spider.
    • He freaked out when he saw the bill.

  • gobble up

    Separable · gobble (something) up · informal

    eat very quickly, or take something eagerly

    Mots proches: wolf down, devour

    • The children gobbled up the pizza.
    • Big firms gobble up smaller ones.

  • hold together

    No object · hold together

    stay joined, or stay united

    Mots proches: remain intact, stay united

    • The old chair barely holds together.
    • The coalition held together until the election.

  • keep at

    Inseparable · keep at (something)

    continue working on something difficult

    Mots proches: persist, persevere

    • It's hard, but keep at it.
    • She kept at her maths until she passed.

  • kick back

    No object · kick back · informal, mainly American

    relax, usually at home

    Mots proches: relax, unwind

    • On Sundays I just kick back with a film.
    • We kicked back on the sofa after dinner.

  • lay down

    Separable · lay (something) down

    state a rule officially, or put something on the ground

    Mots proches: establish, set out

    • The law lays down strict limits.
    • He laid his tools down and rested.

  • mark up

    Separable · mark (something) up

    write notes on a text, or raise a price

    Mots proches: annotate, increase

    • She marked up the draft with comments.
    • Shops often mark goods up before a sale.

  • mop up

    Separable · mop (something) up

    clean up liquid, or finish the last small jobs

    Mots proches: wipe up, clear up

    • He mopped up the spilt milk.
    • We still need to mop up a few details.

  • pump up

    Separable · pump (something) up

    fill something with air or increase it

    Mots proches: inflate, boost

    • I need to pump up my bike tyres.
    • The coach tried to pump the team up.

  • push on

    No object · push on

    continue your journey or work with effort

    Mots proches: press on, carry on

    • Tired but happy, we pushed on to the summit.
    • Let's push on and finish by six.

  • read up on

    Inseparable · read up on (something)

    read a lot to learn about a subject

    Mots proches: research, study

    • I must read up on the city before we go.
    • She read up on the law before the meeting.

  • roll over

    No object · roll over

    turn your body or a thing onto its other side

    Mots proches: turn over

    • The baby rolled over in her sleep.
    • The car rolled over on the wet road.

  • scale down

    Separable · scale (something) down

    make something smaller in size or amount

    Mots proches: reduce, cut back

    • The company will scale down its plans.
    • They scaled the event down to save money.

  • screw up

    Separable · screw (something) up · informal

    make a bad mistake, or spoil something

    Mots proches: mess up, ruin

    • I screwed up the interview.
    • Don't screw this chance up.

  • shake off

    Separable · shake (something) off

    get rid of an illness or a feeling

    Mots proches: get rid of, overcome

    • I can't shake off this cold.
    • He couldn't shake the sadness off.

  • shape up

    No object · shape up · informal

    improve your behaviour or work

    Mots proches: improve, get your act together

    • You'd better shape up or you'll lose the job.
    • The team is shaping up nicely.

  • soak up

    Separable · soak (something) up

    take in liquid or enjoy an atmosphere

    Mots proches: absorb, enjoy

    • A towel will soak up the water.
    • We soaked up the sun on the beach.

  • squeeze in

    Separable · squeeze (something) in

    find time or space for one more thing

    Mots proches: fit in

    • Can you squeeze me in at three?
    • We managed to squeeze in a quick visit.

  • storm out

    No object · storm out

    leave a place angrily and suddenly

    Mots proches: stomp out, flounce out

    • He stormed out of the meeting.
    • She stormed out and slammed the door.

  • tear down

    Separable · tear (something) down

    destroy a building or a structure

    Mots proches: demolish, pull down

    • They will tear down the old bridge.
    • Protesters tore the fence down.

  • tick off

    Separable · tick (something) off · British

    mark an item on a list as done

    Mots proches: check off

    • She ticked off each name on the list.
    • I ticked the jobs off one by one.

  • touch up

    Separable · touch (something) up

    improve something with small changes

    Mots proches: retouch, freshen up

    • I need to touch up the paint by the door.
    • She touched up the photos before posting them.

  • tune in

    No object · tune in

    watch or listen to a programme regularly

    Mots proches: watch, listen

    • Tune in tomorrow for the final.
    • Millions tuned in to see the match.

  • walk through

    Separable · walk (someone) through (something)

    explain each step of a process to someone

    Mots proches: talk through, guide

    • Can you walk me through the form?
    • He walked the new staff through the system.

  • wash away

    Separable · wash (something) away

    remove something with moving water

    Mots proches: sweep away

    • The flood washed away the road.
    • Heavy rain washed the footprints away.

  • wear down

    Separable · wear (something or someone) down

    make something smaller or someone tired by steady pressure

    Mots proches: erode, exhaust

    • The constant noise wore him down.
    • Water wears down the rock.

  • zone out

    No object · zone out · informal

    stop paying attention to what is around you

    Mots proches: switch off, space out

    • I zoned out during the lecture.
    • He zoned out and missed the question.

  • get through to

    Inseparable · get through to (someone)

    make someone understand you, or reach someone by phone

    Mots proches: reach, contact

    • I can't get through to my son these days.
    • I tried to call, but I couldn't get through to her.

  • get around to

    Inseparable · get around to (doing something)

    at last make time for a job you were avoiding

    Mots proches: find time for

    • I never got around to answering his letter.
    • We'll get around to painting the kitchen soon.

  • get behind

    No object · get behind (with something)

    fail to do something as quickly as you should

    Mots proches: fall behind

    • I got behind with my rent in the spring.
    • Don't get behind with your homework.

  • get worked up

    No object · get worked up (about something)

    become very upset or angry about something

    Mots proches: get upset

    • There's no need to get worked up about it.
    • He gets so worked up before every exam.

  • get off with

    Inseparable · get off with (someone) · informal

    start a romantic or physical relationship with someone, mainly British

    Mots proches: kiss

    • She got off with a boy at the party.
    • Who did Tom get off with last night?

  • take up on

    Separable · take (someone) up on (an offer)

    accept an offer someone has made to you

    Mots proches: accept

    • I'd like to take you up on your offer of lunch.
    • She took them up on the invitation.

  • take over from

    Inseparable · take over from (someone)

    start doing a job that someone else was doing before

    Mots proches: succeed, replace

    • Anna will take over from Mr Hill in June.
    • Who took over from the old manager?

  • take through

    Separable · take (someone) through (something)

    explain something to someone step by step

    Mots proches: walk through

    • Can you take me through the budget?
    • The nurse took us through each stage.

  • put in for

    Inseparable · put in for (something)

    make a formal request for something

    Mots proches: apply for

    • She put in for a transfer to Paris.
    • Have you put in for leave yet?

  • put on a show

    Inseparable · put on a show

    organise a performance for an audience

    Mots proches: stage a show

    • The students put on a show for their parents.
    • Our club puts on a show every summer.