Phrasal Verb |
Definition |
Example |
save * up + |
accumulate (money) |
I hope I will be able to save up enough
money to go to school. |
see about + |
arrange or consider something |
My dad said he was going to see about
buying me a car. |
see * off |
say good-bye to someone at the beginning
of their trip (at the airport, train station) |
Did you see your sister off at the train
station? |
see to + |
make sure something happens, arrange |
I'll see to it that Mr. Ramirez gets your
message. |
see * through |
finish something despite difficulties |
Are you going to be able to see your studies
through now that you have a baby? |
sell * out |
tell on someone |
My partner in crime sold me out for a
reduced jail sentence. |
set * up |
arrange a relationship |
My mom set me up with her friend's son. |
set * up |
falsely incriminate a person |
I don't think he killed those men. Somebody
set him up. |
set up + |
arrange (an appointment, a meeting,etc.) |
I set up an appointment with my doctor
at 3:30 this afternoon. |
settle on + |
make a decision after a period of time |
I settled on the job at the oil company. |
settle up |
pay one's debts |
We need to settle up before you move. |
show * off + |
show to everybody with a lot of pride |
He always shows off his new things. |
show off |
boast, draw attention to oneself |
Young boys show off in order to impress
girls. |
show * up |
make someone seem inferior |
He's always trying to show up his co-workers
in order to get ahead. |
show up |
arrive without previous notice |
I hadn't seen my cousin for years, and
all of a sudden, he showed up at my workplace yesterday! |
shut * off |
stop from functioning |
If you don't pay your electric bill, your
power is going to get shut off. |
shut * up |
make quiet |
Would someone shut him up! He's talking
so loudly that we're going to get in trouble. |
slow * down + |
make move more slowly |
Because Mary's level in English is lower
than the rest of the students, she slows the class down. |
slow * up + |
make move more slowly |
Because Mary's level in English is lower
than the rest of the students, she slows the class up. |
spell * out + |
to explain something in a detailed way
so that the meaning is clearly understood |
He's so stupid that you have to spell
everything our for him. |
stand by |
wait |
I need you to stand by and answer the
phone when my broker calls. |
stand for + |
represent |
SCUBA stands for "self contained underwater
breathing apparatus." |
stand for + |
tolerate |
I won't stand for people criticizing me. |
stand out |
be very noticeable |
Soledad is so beautiful! She really stands
out in a crowd. |
stand * up |
not arrive to a date or an appointment
(inf.) |
I arranged to meet Joe at the library
at 8:00, but he stood me up. I hope he has a good excuse. |
stand up for + |
defend (something one believes in) |
Every individual must stand up for what
they believe in. |
stand up to + |
defend oneself against someone or something |
I think you should stand up to your older
brother and tell him to stop pushing you around. |
stay over |
spend the night at a person's house |
It takes you so long to take the bus home,
so why don't you just stay over? |
stick it to + |
severely criticize a person (inf.) |
My boss really stuck it to me when I arrived
late to work for the third time this week. |
stick to + |
persevere, keep trying |
Even though English is a hard language
to master, you must stick to it! |
stick up for + |
defend oneself or opinions |
Joseph joined the army because he believes
he must stick up for his country. |