Phrasal verbs for fluent, natural English at upper-intermediate level: account for, back down, bring something about, give rise to. Many of them are more abstract than the B1 set and turn up in news, work email and essays as well as in conversation.
About the levels: Recommended learner level (estimate from two models + word-level floor), not an official CEFR grading.
Many phrasal verbs have a one-word formal equivalent (bring something about / cause, account for / explain). Knowing both lets you choose the register: the phrasal verb in conversation, the single verb in a formal essay.
Three-part verbs (give rise to, look down on) keep all three parts together. Learn the full chain, including the preposition at the end.
to explain where someone or something is, or to show that they are safe and present (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + account for + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The teacher tried to account for them all, but two students were missing. Right: The teacher tried to account for all of them, but two students were missing. The phrasal verb 'account for' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'them' cannot go between 'account' and 'for'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after the preposition 'for'.
to be the main reason or explanation for why something happens or exists (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (the cause) + account for + noun (the effect/result)
Wrong: The heavy rain accounted the traffic jam. Right: The heavy rain accounted for the traffic jam. The phrasal verb 'account for' always requires the preposition 'for' to connect it to the object.
Do not use this verb in the passive voice; we do not say 'something is accounted for by'.
to form or make up a particular amount or part of something (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (part) + account for + noun (total/percentage)
Wrong: Online sales account about 40% of our total revenue. Right: Online sales account for about 40% of our total revenue. The phrasal verb must always include the preposition 'for'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; you cannot put the noun or pronoun between 'account' and 'for'.
to take action because of information, advice, or a decision you have received (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + act on + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The manager received my email but he didn't act it on. Right: The manager received my email but he didn't act on it. The phrasal verb 'act on' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'it' must go after the preposition 'on'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'on', even if it is a pronoun like 'it'.
to take official, legal, or decisive action in order to deal with a problem or threat (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + act on + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The council decided to act the complaints on immediately. Right: The council decided to act on the complaints immediately. The phrasal verb 'act on' is inseparable, so the object cannot be placed between 'act' and 'on'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after the preposition 'on'.
to do something because you feel a strong sudden desire, impulse, or feeling (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + act on + noun (impulse/feeling/desire)
Wrong: He felt angry and acted it on. Right: He felt angry and acted on it. The phrasal verb 'act on' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'it' must go after 'on', not between 'acted' and 'on'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after the preposition 'on'.
To plan, hope, or try to achieve a specific goal. (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + aim at + noun / gerund (-ing)
Wrong: We aim at finish the project by Friday. Right: We aim to finish the project by Friday. / We are aiming at finishing the project by Friday. After 'aim at', you must use a gerund (-ing). Alternatively, use 'aim' followed by an infinitive with 'to'.
When followed by a verb, you must use the '-ing' form, not the infinitive.
to consider or include something when you are making a plan or calculation (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + allow for + noun/gerund
Wrong: We must allow traffic delays when planning the trip. Right: We must allow for traffic delays when planning the trip. Without 'for', 'allow' means 'to permit' or 'to let', which changes the meaning completely.
Do not separate the verb and the preposition; the object must always come after 'for'.
to make something possible or to let something happen (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + allow for + noun/gerund
Wrong: The rules do not allow for to use mobile phones during the exam. Right: The rules do not allow for using mobile phones during the exam. The preposition 'for' must be followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.
Do not confuse this with 'allow for' meaning 'to take into consideration' (e.g., allowing for traffic delays).
to accept the blame or punishment for something bad that you have done (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + answer for + noun/pronoun
Wrong: He will have to answer his crimes in court. Right: He will have to answer for his crimes in court. Without the preposition 'for', 'answer' just means to reply to a question, not to take responsibility for a bad action.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object (the mistake or crime) must always come after the preposition 'for'.
to be responsible to a person in authority and have to explain your actions to them (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + answer to + person/position
Wrong: In our company, everyone must answer the boss. Right: In our company, everyone must answer to the boss. Without 'to', 'answer the boss' means replying to the boss's questions, not being accountable to them.
Do not confuse this with 'answer someone' (which means to reply to a question).
to explain or justify your actions to someone who has authority over you (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + answer to + someone
Wrong: If you break the rules, you will have to answer me. Right: If you break the rules, you will have to answer to me. Without the preposition 'to', 'answer someone' just means to reply to a question, not to justify your actions to an authority.
This phrase is very frequently used with the modal verb 'have to' (e.g., 'you will have to answer to me').
to recognize a name as your own and react when someone calls you by it (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + answer to + name
Wrong: Our new cat answers on the name Lily. Right: Our new cat answers to the name Lily. In English, we use the preposition 'to' after 'answer' in this context, not 'on'.
This verb is always inseparable; the name or pronoun must come after 'to'.
to reach a decision, agreement, or conclusion after thinking or discussing it for some time (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + arrive at + noun (decision/conclusion/agreement/compromise)
Wrong: We arrived to a compromise after a long debate. Right: We arrived at a compromise after a long debate. The phrasal verb always takes the preposition 'at', not 'to', when meaning to reach a conclusion.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical meaning of arriving at a place like a station or airport.
to behave in a way that is likely to cause problems or trouble for yourself (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + be + asking for + trouble / it
Wrong: He is asking for a trouble by ignoring the warning signs. Right: He is asking for trouble by ignoring the warning signs. The noun 'trouble' is uncountable in this context and must not be used with the indefinite article 'a'.
This sense is almost always used in the continuous form ('asking for it') or with trouble/problems as the object.
to deal with a task, problem, or person that needs your attention or action (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + attend to + noun/pronoun
Wrong: I must attend to my birthday party next week. Right: I must attend my birthday party next week. Without 'to', 'attend' means to go to or be present at an event. With 'to', it means to deal with or take care of a task.
Do not use this in casual, everyday conversations with friends; use 'deal with', 'take care of', or 'look after' instead.
to stop supporting an idea, plan, or promise, often because it has become unpopular (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + back away + (from + noun/gerund)
Wrong: The minister backed himself away from the new law. Right: The minister backed away from the new law. The phrasal verb 'back away' is intransitive and cannot be used with a direct object or a reflexive pronoun.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of walking backward to escape danger.
to stop defending your opinion or demand during an argument or fight (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + back down (+ from + noun/gerund)
Wrong: He refused to back down his opinion during the meeting. Right: He refused to back down during the meeting. The verb 'back down' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object. To include the object, you must use the preposition 'from'.
This phrasal verb is intransitive; do not put an object directly after it. If you want to mention the opponent or the argument, use 'back down from'.
to stop defending your opinion or claim, especially in an argument or conflict (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + back down + (from + noun/gerund)
Wrong: The manager backed down his decision after the employees protested. Right: The manager backed down on his decision after the employees protested. You cannot 'back down something' directly because the verb is intransitive. You must use 'back down on' or 'back down from' before an object.
This phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot be separated; you cannot 'back something down'.
to stop being aggressive, demanding, or annoying, or to stop interfering in a situation (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + back off + (from + noun/pronoun)
Wrong: The boss was angry, so I backed him off. Right: The boss was angry, so I backed off. The phrasal verb 'back off' is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
This phrase can sound quite direct or confrontational, so avoid using it with superiors at work.
to return to an earlier point in a conversation, process, or story to correct or change something (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + back up (+ to + noun)
Wrong: I need to back up my decision because it was wrong. Right: I need to backpedal on my decision because it was wrong. In this intransitive sense of undoing an action or decision, 'back up' cannot take a direct object like 'my decision'. To undo a decision, use 'backpedal on' or 'go back on'.
In this specific intransitive sense of undoing or retracing one's steps in a conversation, the verb cannot take a direct object.
to be made, designed, or intended for a specific group of people (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + be + aimed at + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The new English course aims at complete beginners. Right: The new English course is aimed at complete beginners. When we talk about who a product or service is designed for, we use the passive form 'is aimed at'.
In this sense, the phrase is almost always used in the passive voice ('be aimed at').
to agree with, approve of, or be okay with an idea, plan, or suggestion (B2, not separable, slang)
Pattern: subject + be + down with + noun/pronoun/-ing form
Wrong: I am down with to go to the party tonight. Right: I am down with going to the party tonight. The preposition 'with' must be followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.
Do not use this in professional or formal contexts, as it is very casual slang.
to be sexually attracted to or get sexual pleasure from a specific activity, object, or roleplay (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + be + into + noun / gerund (-ing)
Wrong: He is into of leather and latex. Right: He is into leather and latex. The phrasal verb 'be into' is followed directly by the noun, without the preposition 'of'.
This is highly informal and intimate; do not use it in professional, formal, or polite family settings.
to be very determined to do or get something, and not want to change your mind (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + be (am/is/are/was/were) + set on + noun / -ing form
Wrong: She is set on to buy a new house next year. Right: She is set on buying a new house next year. The preposition 'on' must be followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.
This phrase is almost always used in the passive voice ('be set on') and is followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form).
to be already claimed, reserved, or unavailable because someone else has taken it (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + be + spoken for
Wrong: I want to buy this chair, but the shop assistant said it is spoke for. Right: I want to buy this chair, but the shop assistant said it is spoken for. The phrase requires the past participle 'spoken' because it is used in the passive voice.
This sense is almost always used in the passive voice (e.g., 'is spoken for' or 'has been spoken for').
used to talk about official plans, arrangements, or things that are expected to happen (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + be (am/is/are/was/were) + to + infinitive
Wrong: I am to buy some milk because we don't have any. Right: I am going to buy some milk because we don't have any. The 'be to' structure is for official arrangements or duties, not for personal, everyday decisions.
This structure is always followed by an infinitive with 'to' (e.g., 'is to arrive') and is not used for spontaneous, unplanned future actions.
to have sex with someone, often used as a polite or indirect way of speaking (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + be + with + person
Wrong: I want to be with you tonight because I am lonely. Right: I want to be with you tonight because I miss you. Using 'be with you' when you only mean 'spend time with you' can be easily misunderstood as wanting to have sex, especially in a nighttime context.
Be careful, as 'be with someone' usually just means being in a romantic relationship or physically spending time with them; the sexual meaning depends heavily on the context.
to damage something severely, especially through rough use, a difficult journey, or bad weather (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + get/be + beaten up + (by something)
Wrong: The storm beat up our house. Right: Our house got really beaten up by the storm. In this sense, we almost always use the passive form ('got beaten up') when describing damage caused by non-human forces like weather.
This sense is almost always used in the passive voice ('get beaten up' or 'be beaten up') or as an adjective ('beat-up').
to happen to someone or something, especially when you do not know where they are now (B2, not separable)
Pattern: what + become of + noun/pronoun
Wrong: What did become of him after he lost his job? Right: What became of him after he lost his job? In subject questions with 'what', we do not use the auxiliary verb 'did' in the past simple.
This phrase is almost always used in questions starting with 'what' (e.g., 'What became of...?') or in indirect questions.
to suddenly damage or destroy something, like a tire, electrical part, or joint, making it stop working (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + blow out + noun (or: subject + blow + noun/pronoun + out)
Wrong: He fell on the ski slope and blew out himself his knee. Right: He fell on the ski slope and blew out his knee. The phrasal verb is transitive and takes the body part as the direct object; do not insert a reflexive pronoun like 'himself'.
Do not confuse this with 'blowing out' candles, which means extinguishing them with air.
to intentionally ignore a person or not do something you are supposed to do (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + blow + object (person/duty) + off
Wrong: I had a lot of work, so I blew off it. Right: I had a lot of work, so I blew it off. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'it' or 'me'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
This is very informal and should not be used in professional emails or formal writing.
to restrict someone's choices, freedom, or ability to act or think freely (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + box + someone + in
Wrong: The strict rules boxed in me so I decided to quit. Right: The strict rules boxed me in so I decided to quit. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'me' must always go between the verb and the particle.
When using a pronoun (like 'me', 'him', 'them'), it must go between 'box' and 'in'.
to suddenly collapse, fall apart, or cave in physically (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (structure) + break down
Wrong: The old house broke down during the earthquake. Right: The old house collapsed during the earthquake. While 'break down' can mean to physically collapse, native speakers almost always use 'collapse' or 'fall down' for buildings, reserving 'break down' for smaller structures or specific parts.
Do not confuse this physical collapse with the much more common meanings of a machine stopping working or a person crying.
to successfully start working in a particular profession, industry, or business (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + break into + noun (industry/profession)
Wrong: He wants to break into a new job in marketing. Right: He wants to break into marketing. We break into an entire industry, field, or market, not a specific job position.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of entering a building by force to steal something.
to open a packet, box, or container of something, or start using a supply of money or food (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + break into + noun (savings/packet/bottle)
Wrong: I broke into a new pack of cigarettes because I finished the old one. Right: I opened a new pack of cigarettes because I finished the old one. While grammatically correct, 'break into' implies using a reserved or saved supply out of necessity or temptation, not just opening a regular daily item.
Do not confuse this with the physical crime of 'breaking into' a house or building to steal something.
to tell someone bad, disappointing, or shocking news in a gentle way (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + break + it + to + person (+ that + clause)
Wrong: I don't know how to break the bad news to her. Right: I don't know how to break it to her. While 'break the news' is correct, the specific idiom with 'it' is 'break it to someone'. You cannot say 'break the bad news to her' as a direct substitution for this specific idiomatic pattern.
The pronoun 'it' is fixed in this phrase and cannot be replaced by other nouns; the actual news is introduced later with 'that'.
to suddenly stop doing or having something, such as a conversation, relationship, or talks (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + break off + noun (or: subject + break + pronoun + off)
Wrong: They decided to break off their marriage after ten years. Right: They decided to end their marriage after ten years. We break off engagements, talks, or relations, but we do not 'break off' a marriage; we end it or get a divorce.
When used transitively in this sense, the object usually comes after the particle 'off' unless it is a pronoun (e.g., 'break it off').
to take something out of storage or a safe place to use or celebrate with it (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + break + (noun/pronoun) + out + (or: break out + noun)
Wrong: We broke out it to celebrate our victory. Right: We broke it out to celebrate our victory. When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'break' and 'out'.
Do not use this in formal or professional contexts; it is best suited for casual, celebratory situations.
to help someone escape from a place, especially a prison (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + break + object (person) + out + (of + noun)
Wrong: They tried to break out him from the jail. Right: They tried to break him out of the jail. With pronouns, this phrasal verb must be separated, and we use the preposition 'of', not 'from'.
If you use a pronoun like 'him' or 'them', it must go between 'break' and 'out'.
to force something (like a door or window) inward so that it breaks and opens (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + break + noun/pronoun + in
Wrong: The police broke in the door to catch the thief. Right: The police broke the door in to catch the thief. When the object is a specific physical thing being smashed inward, it is much more natural to place the object between 'break' and 'in'.
Do not confuse this with 'break into a house', which means to enter illegally; 'break a door in' specifically means the physical destruction of the door itself.
to force a leader, government, or powerful group out of power (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject (scandal/protest/crisis) + bring + object (government/leader) + down
Do not confuse this political meaning with the physical action of lowering something or making someone feel sad.
to express confidence and readiness to face a challenge, fight, or competition (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: Bring it on!
Wrong: I am ready to bring on the challenge. Right: I am ready. Bring it on! In this idiomatic sense, the phrase is used as a standalone exclamation 'Bring it on!' rather than as a transitive verb with a specific noun object.
In this sense, the phrase is almost always used as an exclamation with 'it' ('Bring it on!') and is not used with other objects.
to make a particular quality or behavior in someone or something more noticeable (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + bring out + noun/pronoun + (in someone)
Wrong: This crisis brought out of him his true character. Right: This crisis brought out his true character. We say 'bring out something' or 'bring out something in someone', but we do not use 'of' after 'bring out'.
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them' as the object, it must go between 'bring' and 'out'.
to make a particular quality in someone or something more noticeable, or to make a shy person more confident (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + bring + noun/pronoun + out (or: subject + bring out + noun)
Wrong: This blue shirt brings out it your eyes. Right: This blue shirt brings out your eyes. Do not use a pronoun ('it') and a noun ('your eyes') together as the object of the phrasal verb.
When using a pronoun (like 'it' or 'her'), it must go between 'bring' and 'out'.
to make someone who is unconscious become conscious again (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + bring + pronoun/noun + to
Wrong: We tried to bring to him with some water. Right: We tried to bring him to with some water. The pronoun must go between 'bring' and 'to' because this phrasal verb is separable and always takes an object in this position.
This verb is almost always used with a pronoun (like 'him', 'her', 'me') placed between 'bring' and 'to'.
to make something happen, especially a change or a major event (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + bring about + noun OR subject + bring + noun + about
Wrong: The heavy rain brought about me to arrive late. Right: The heavy rain caused me to arrive late. The phrasal verb 'bring about' takes a noun phrase as its direct object, not an object followed by an infinitive.
Do not use this for simple, everyday physical actions; for example, you do not 'bring about' a dropped glass.
to cause something bad or unpleasant to happen, such as an illness, pain, or trouble (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + bring + noun/pronoun + on OR subject + bring on + noun
Wrong: The good news brought on a big celebration. Right: The good news led to a big celebration. 'Bring on' is used for negative things like illnesses or problems, not positive events.
This phrasal verb is almost always used with negative things (like headaches, asthma attacks, or crises), not positive things.
to make a memory, feeling, or old issue from the past active or visible again (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + bring + noun/pronoun + up
Wrong: The smell of the sea brought up me memories of my childhood. Right: The smell of the sea brought up memories of my childhood. The object 'memories' must come after the particle 'up', or if using a pronoun like 'them', it must go between 'bring' and 'up'. You cannot put 'me' as an indirect object here.
Do not confuse this with the more common meaning of 'mentioning a topic in conversation'; this sense is about making hidden feelings or memories resurface.
to use an existing idea, success, or achievement as a base to develop something further (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + build on + noun/pronoun
Wrong: We want to build on our previous results with adding new features. Right: We want to build on our previous results by adding new features. After 'build on something', use 'by doing' to explain how you are developing it, not 'with doing'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal physical action of constructing a building on top of a surface.
to suddenly say something in a loud, emotional, or excited way (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + burst out + (direct speech)
Wrong: He burst out that he hated his job. Right: He burst out, "I hate my job!" / He suddenly blurted out that he hated his job. In this sense, 'burst out' is intransitive and is typically used with direct speech, not with a 'that' clause.
Do not confuse this intransitive sense with 'burst out crying' or 'burst out laughing', where it is followed by an -ing verb.
to pay money to join a group investment, a business venture, or a card game (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + buy in + (optional: at/for + amount)
Wrong: We bought in the company last year. Right: We bought into the company last year. To buy a share of a specific company or project, you must use the transitive phrasal-prepositional verb 'buy into something'. 'Buy in' is intransitive.
If you want to mention the specific project or amount, use the preposition 'to' or 'at', as in 'buy in at fifty dollars'.
to publicly demand or request that something must be done (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + call for + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The situation is serious and we must call it for. Right: The situation is serious and we must call for it. The phrasal verb 'call for' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'it' cannot go between 'call' and 'for'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'for', even if it is a pronoun.
to visit someone, especially for a short time or for a specific purpose (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + call on + person
Wrong: I will call on you tonight so we can watch the football match together. Right: I will come over tonight so we can watch the football match together. 'Call on' is too formal for a casual visit with a friend to watch TV.
Do not use this in casual, everyday conversation with friends; use 'visit' or 'drop by' instead.
to formally ask someone to do something, or to ask a student in class to answer a question (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + call on + person + to-infinitive / subject + call on + person
Wrong: The teacher called out me in the English lesson. Right: The teacher called on me in the English lesson. 'Call out' means to shout or to challenge someone, whereas 'call on' is the correct phrasal verb for asking a student to speak in class.
Do not use this in casual, everyday conversations with friends when simply asking for a favor.
to officially order a group of people (like soldiers, firefighters, or emergency workers) to help in a situation (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + call + noun/pronoun + out (or: call out + noun)
Wrong: The president called out the soldiers for their bad behavior in public. Right: The president criticized the soldiers for their bad behavior in public. In this sense, 'call out' means to summon for duty, not to reprimand or criticize.
Do not confuse this with the modern informal meaning of 'calling someone out' which means to criticize or challenge someone publicly.
to ask or order someone to return to a place they just left. (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + call + object (person) + back
Wrong: The teacher called back the student to the classroom. Right: The teacher called the student back to the classroom. When using this phrasal verb with a specific person as the object, it is much more natural to place the object between 'call' and 'back'.
Do not confuse this sense with the much more common meaning of returning a phone call.
to officially order someone to join the army or fight in a war (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + call + object (person) + up
Wrong: During the crisis, the government called up them. Right: During the crisis, the government called them up. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects must always go between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun like 'him', 'her', or 'them', it must go between 'call' and 'up'.
to choose a player to join a national or professional sports team (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + call + someone + up (to/for + team)
Wrong: The manager decided to call up him for the next match. Right: The manager decided to call him up for the next match. When the object is a pronoun (him, her, them, us), it must be placed between 'call' and 'up'.
If you use a pronoun like 'him' or 'them', it must go between 'call' and 'up'.
to find and show information on a computer screen, or to bring a memory into your mind (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + call + noun/pronoun + up
Wrong: Can you call up it on your computer? Right: Can you call it up on your computer? With separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun object must always go between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'call' and 'up'.
to stop using one system, service, or method and start using a different one (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + change over + to + noun
Wrong: We decided to change over our car for a bigger one. Right: We decided to change our car for a bigger one. Do not use 'change over' for simply swapping or exchanging individual physical objects; it is used for systems, methods, or suppliers.
When this sense is used transitively, we usually say 'change something over to something' or 'change over to something', but the verb itself does not split with a direct object in the same way as 'turn off'.
to try to start a romantic relationship with someone by pursuing them (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + chase after + person
Wrong: She is chasing after him to marry her. Right: She is chasing after him because she wants to marry him. We do not use an infinitive of purpose ('to marry') directly after 'chase after someone'.
This phrase is informal and can sometimes imply that the pursuit is desperate or one-sided.
to have a secret romantic or sexual relationship with someone else behind your partner's back (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + cheat on + person
Wrong: He cheated his girlfriend with her best friend. Right: He cheated on his girlfriend with her best friend. Without the preposition 'on', 'cheat someone' means to trick someone out of money, not to be unfaithful.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; you must put the person being cheated on after the preposition 'on'.
to think about something carefully for a period of time before making a decision (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + chew on + noun/pronoun
Wrong: I need to chew on about your proposal before I decide. Right: I need to chew on your proposal before I decide. The phrasal verb 'chew on' is transitive and takes a direct object; you do not need the preposition 'about'.
Do not use this in formal business writing or academic essays; use 'consider' or 'ponder' instead.
to wash, dress nicely, and make yourself look very neat and attractive for a special occasion (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + clean up (+ nice / well)
Wrong: She cleaned up her husband before the party. Right: She got her husband to clean up before the party. In this sense, 'clean up' is intransitive. You cannot 'clean up' another person; they must do it themselves.
In this specific sense, the verb is intransitive and cannot take an object; you cannot 'clean up someone else' in this way.
to solve the problems, mistakes, or difficult situations that another person has caused (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + clean up after + person
Wrong: The secretary had to clean after her boss when he made a mistake. Right: The secretary had to clean up after her boss when he made a mistake. The phrasal verb requires both 'up' and 'after' to mean fixing someone's mistakes; 'clean after' is incorrect.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal meaning of cleaning physical dirt or rubbish left by someone.
to remove crime, corruption, or bad behavior from a place, organization, or system (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + clean up + noun/pronoun (or: subject + clean + noun/pronoun + up)
Wrong: The government wants to clean up the corruption. Right: The government wants to clean up the system. You clean up the place, organization, or system that contains the corruption, not the corruption itself.
Do not confuse this metaphorical meaning with the physical action of washing or tidying a room.
to stay very close to someone and refuse to leave them, often because you are scared or nervous (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + cling to + person
Wrong: The shy child clung himself to his father. Right: The shy child clung to his father. The phrasal verb 'cling to' is not reflexive; you do not use 'myself', 'himself', etc., with it.
This can describe both physical holding (holding on tightly) and just staying very close to someone without physically touching them.
to move closer to someone or something that you are chasing or trying to catch (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + close in + (on + object)
Wrong: The police closed in the thief in the dark alley. Right: The police closed in on the thief in the dark alley. Without the preposition 'on', 'close in' cannot take a direct object. 'Close someone in' means to trap or confine them.
If you mention the person or thing being pursued, you must use the preposition 'on' after 'close in'.
to move closer to someone or something, especially to surround or catch them (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + close in + (on + object)
Wrong: The wolves were closing in the deer. Right: The wolves were closing in on the deer. You must use the preposition 'on' before the object when 'close in' has a target.
Always use the preposition 'on' if you want to mention the person or thing being surrounded.
to join together or heal so that a gap, hole, or wound disappears (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (gap/wound/space) + close up
Wrong: After a few days, my wound closed itself up. Right: After a few days, my wound closed up. In this sense, 'close up' is intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'itself'.
Do not confuse this with 'close up' meaning to lock up a shop at the end of the day.
to move closer together to close a gap or space between people or things (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (plural or collective) + close up
Wrong: The hikers closed up themselves to stay warm. Right: The hikers closed up to stay warm. In this sense, 'close up' is strictly intransitive and cannot take a reflexive pronoun like 'themselves'.
Do not confuse this with the transitive 'close something up' which means to lock a building or heal a wound.
to happen, especially in a way that was not planned or is difficult to explain (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come about
Wrong: How did come about this mistake? Right: How did this mistake come about? The subject must come before the phrasal verb 'come about' in a question.
This verb is intransitive, meaning it never takes a direct object and cannot be used in the passive voice.
to seem to have a particular quality or personality to other people (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come across + [as + noun/adjective] OR [adjective]
Wrong: She comes across like a very friendly person. Right: She comes across as a very friendly person. We use 'come across as' followed by a noun phrase, not 'like'.
Do not use 'like' after 'come across' in professional writing; use 'as' or an adjective instead (e.g., 'come across as professional', not 'come across like professional').
to change your opinion and finally agree with or accept something you did not like before (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come around + (to + noun/gerund)
Wrong: I finally came around him to sign the contract. Right: I finally got him to sign the contract. / He finally came around and signed the contract. 'Come around' cannot take a direct object representing a person you convinced; it means you yourself changed your mind.
This phrasal verb is intransitive or followed by 'to'; do not put an object between 'come' and 'around'.
to move toward someone in an aggressive or threatening way to attack or challenge them (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + come at + object (person)
Wrong: The angry dog came at to me when I opened the gate. Right: The angry dog came at me when I opened the gate. The phrasal verb 'come at' is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'to'.
This is an informal and dramatic phrase, so avoid using it in formal or professional contexts unless describing a literal physical assault.
to become successful, healthy, or confident again after a difficult situation, defeat, or injury (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come back from + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The team came back from their defeat very quickly. Right: The team came back from their defeat to win the championship. Without an indication of recovery or success, 'come back from' can sound like they just physically returned from the game where they lost.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal physical return from a place (e.g., 'come back from London').
to find or get something, especially when it is rare, difficult to find, or obtained by chance (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come by + noun/pronoun
Wrong: Cheap apartments in the center are very hard to come them by. Right: Cheap apartments in the center are very hard to come by. The phrasal verb 'come by' is inseparable, and in this passive-like structure, the object is already the subject of the sentence, so no extra pronoun is needed.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after the preposition 'by'.
to have something as the most important, deciding, or basic factor (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (often 'it') + come(s) down to + noun / -ing form
Wrong: The success of the project comes down on hard work. Right: The success of the project comes down to hard work. The correct preposition in this phrasal verb is 'to', not 'on'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable and is always followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (-ing form).
to search for someone in order to arrest them, capture them, or hurt them (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come for + person
Wrong: The police came for arrest him in the middle of the night. Right: The police came for him in the middle of the night. The phrasal verb 'come for' must be followed directly by a noun or pronoun representing the person, not a verb infinitive.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of visiting someone to pick them up, as in 'I will come for you at five o'clock'.
to criticize, challenge, or try to defeat someone in a competition or argument (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + come for + person
Wrong: The critics came for him out. Right: The critics came for him. The phrasal verb 'come for' is inseparable; the object must always come directly after the preposition 'for'.
This is highly informal and often used in modern online debates, pop culture, or sports; do not use it in formal business writing.
to become useful, important, or relevant in a particular situation (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come in + (usually preceded by 'where' or followed by 'handy')
Wrong: This is the place where your help comes in useful. Right: This is where your help comes in useful. We do not use 'the place' when 'where' refers to a point in a situation or process rather than a physical location.
This sense is almost always used with 'where' or 'handy' (e.g., 'that's where you come in' or 'this is where the experience comes in').
to suddenly receive money or property, usually because someone in your family has died (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come into + noun (money/fortune/property)
Wrong: She came into after her aunt died. Right: She came into a lot of money after her aunt died. Unlike the verb 'inherit', 'come into' cannot be used without a direct object.
This phrasal verb is inseparable and always requires a direct object (the money or property inherited).
to start to exist, happen, or have an effect (such as a law, fashion, or state) (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come into + noun (e.g., force, bloom, effect, fashion)
Wrong: The new law will come into the force tomorrow. Right: The new law will come into force tomorrow. In fixed expressions like 'come into force' or 'come into fashion', we do not use the definite article 'the'.
This phrasal verb is always inseparable and is followed directly by a noun phrase like 'force', 'bloom', 'fashion', or 'use'.
to be a relevant factor, influence, or part of a situation (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (often abstract, e.g., money/luck) + come into + noun/it
Wrong: Personal feelings must not come into the decision. Right: Personal feelings must not come into play / must not come into the decision. While grammatically possible, 'come into the decision' is less natural than 'come into it' or 'come into play' when the context is already established.
This phrasal verb is inseparable and is very often used in the negative ('doesn't come into it') or in questions.
to happen as a result of something (B2, not separable)
Pattern: something/nothing + come of + noun/pronoun
Wrong: I hope that some good results will come of your hard work. Right: I hope that something good will come of your hard work. We do not usually use plural nouns like 'results' as the subject of 'come of'; we use pronouns like 'something' or 'good things'.
This phrase is almost always used in the third person, often with 'nothing', 'something', 'anything', or 'what' as the subject.
to succeed or happen as planned (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject (plan/idea/it) + come off
Wrong: I worked hard and finally came off. Right: I worked hard and finally succeeded. The subject of 'come off' must be the plan, trick, or event itself, not the person who performed it.
This phrasal verb is intransitive and is almost always used with 'it' or a plan/event as the subject, often in the negative.
to express yourself in a way that gives people a particular impression or opinion of you (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come off + as + adjective/noun
Wrong: He comes off like very friendly. Right: He comes off as very friendly. We use 'come off as' followed by an adjective or noun to describe an impression, not 'like'.
This phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot be separated; the preposition 'as' is required before a noun or adjective.
to seem to have a particular quality or personality to other people (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + come over + as + adjective/noun
Wrong: He comes over very professional in his emails. Right: He comes over as very professional in his emails. You must use the preposition 'as' before the adjective or noun phrase when describing the impression someone makes.
Do not confuse this with the physical movement meaning of 'come over' (to visit someone's house).
to suddenly affect someone, making them behave or feel in an unusual or unexpected way (B2, not separable)
Pattern: something (such as a feeling, madness, or urge) + come over + someone
Wrong: I don't know what came over to me. Right: I don't know what came over me. The phrasal verb 'come over' is followed directly by the object, without the preposition 'to'.
In this sense, 'come over' is transitive and inseparable; the person affected is always the direct object.
to change your opinion and agree with something you previously disagreed with (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come round + (to + noun/gerund)
Wrong: I tried to persuade him and he finally came round his opinion. Right: I tried to persuade him and he finally came round to my opinion. You must use 'come round to' followed by the idea or opinion you now agree with.
In American English, 'come around' is much more common than 'come round' for this meaning.
to be clearly seen, heard, or understood in a piece of writing, speech, or art (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (feeling/quality) + come through + (in/through + noun)
Wrong: His anger came through him in the letter. Right: His anger came through in the letter. The quality itself is the subject that 'comes through'. You do not need to mention the person as an object after the verb.
This phrasal verb is intransitive in this sense, meaning it does not take a direct object.
to survive a difficult, dangerous, or painful situation, experience, or illness (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come through + (noun/it)
Wrong: The company came through the financial crisis very easily. Right: The company got through the financial crisis very easily. While 'come through' is used for surviving life-threatening situations or severe personal trials, 'get through' is more natural for managing general financial or logistical difficulties.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of entering a room or a message arriving.
for different parts of a plan, project, or situation to start working well and succeeding (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (project/plan/event) + come together
Wrong: I am glad that our plan is coming together itself. Right: I am glad that our plan is coming together. The phrasal verb 'come together' is intransitive and does not need a reflexive pronoun like 'itself'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal meaning of people physically meeting or gathering in one place.
to reach an expected standard, level, or quality (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + come up to + noun (expectations/standards)
Wrong: The movie did not come up to my expectatives. Right: The movie did not come up to my expectations. The correct noun to use with this phrase is 'expectations', not 'expectatives'.
This phrasal verb is almost always followed by nouns like 'expectations', 'standards', or 'scratch'.
to become calm after being angry, excited, or upset (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + cool down
Wrong: I need to cool down my head before I make a decision. Right: I need to cool down before I make a decision. In this intransitive sense, 'cool down' does not take an object like 'my head'.
Do not confuse this emotional meaning with the physical meaning of lowering your body temperature after exercise.
to become less angry, excited, or intense (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + cool down
Wrong: After the argument, he needed some time to cool down himself. Right: After the argument, he needed some time to cool down. In this intransitive sense, 'cool down' is not used with reflexive pronouns like 'himself'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical meaning of lowering temperature (e.g., letting hot soup cool down).
to deal successfully with a difficult situation, job, or person (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + cope with + noun / pronoun / -ing form
Wrong: It is a difficult situation, but I will cope with. Right: It is a difficult situation, but I will cope. If you do not mention the specific problem after 'cope', you must drop the preposition 'with'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; you cannot put the object between 'cope' and 'with'.
to make someone feel nervous, uncomfortable, or scared, especially by being strange or unusual (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + creep + pronoun/noun + out
Wrong: The spider creeped out me. Right: The spider creeped me out. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'me', 'him', 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Avoid using this in formal writing or professional contexts; use 'make uncomfortable' or 'unnerve' instead.
to shape something (like hair, paper, or a leaf) into a curved or spiral shape (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + curl + noun/pronoun + up (or: curl up + noun)
Wrong: She curled up her hair with a brush. Right: She curled her hair up with a brush. When using a pronoun or a short noun phrase with this separable phrasal verb, it is much more natural to put the object between 'curl' and 'up'.
Do not confuse this transitive sense with the intransitive 'curl up', which means to sit or lie with your knees pulled up to your chest.
to roll or bend something into a curved, round, or tight shape (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + curl + noun/pronoun + up (or: curl up + noun)
Wrong: Please curl up it before you put it in the box. Right: Please curl it up before you put it in the box. With phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'it' must always go between the verb and the particle.
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'curl' and 'up'.
to roll, bend, or twist into a curved shape (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (leaf, paper, hair, etc.) + curl up
Wrong: The hot sun made the pages of my book to curl up. Right: The hot sun made the pages of my book curl up. The verb 'make' is followed by an infinitive without 'to'.
Do not confuse this with the physical action of a person curling up (e.g., in bed), which is a much more common everyday meaning.
to severely cut or injure someone's body, or damage something by cutting it many times (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + cut + object (person/thing) + up
Wrong: The cat cutted me up with its claws. Right: The cat cut me up with its claws. The verb 'cut' is irregular and its past tense form is also 'cut', not 'cutted'.
This is an informal and graphic phrase; in formal medical or legal contexts, use 'lacerate' or 'severely cut'.
to buy and sell a particular product or commodity as a business (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + deal in + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The company deals with antique furniture. Right: The company deals in antique furniture. 'Deal with' means to handle a problem or a topic, whereas 'deal in' is used for trading goods.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the noun or pronoun must always come after the preposition 'in'.
to be about a particular subject, or to discuss or explain a topic in a book, speech, or film (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (book/article/movie) + deal with + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The documentary deals about the effects of climate change. Right: The documentary deals with the effects of climate change. The phrasal verb is 'deal with', not 'deal about'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable, so the object must always come after 'with', even if it is a pronoun like 'it'.
to die while someone is looking after you or is responsible for you (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject (dying person) + die on + object (caregiver/witness)
Do not use this in formal medical reports or when expressing polite condolences, as it is very informal and dramatic.
to stop using, having, or doing something; to get rid of a rule, system, or service (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + do away with + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The government wants to do it away with. Right: The government wants to do away with it. The phrasal verb 'do away with' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'it' cannot be placed inside the verb phrase.
This phrasal verb is inseparable, meaning the object must always come after 'with', even if it is a pronoun like 'it'.
to seriously injure or damage a part of your body, especially through hard work or exercise (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + do + noun/pronoun + in
Wrong: I did in my ankle during the football match. Right: I did my ankle in during the football match. When using this phrasal verb with a specific body part, it is much more natural to put the object between 'do' and 'in'.
Do not use this in formal contexts like a doctor's appointment or a medical report.
to clean, tidy, or decorate a room or a cupboard (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + do + noun/pronoun + out
Wrong: I need to do out my bedroom this afternoon. Right: I need to do my bedroom out this afternoon. When using 'do out' to mean clean or decorate, we almost always separate the verb and the particle with the noun, especially when it is a short object.
This is an informal British English expression; do not use it in formal writing or professional contexts.
to prepare and write a formal document, plan, or agreement (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + draw + noun/pronoun + up (or: draw up + noun)
Wrong: We need to draw up it before the meeting starts. Right: We need to draw it up before the meeting starts. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Remember that if you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'draw' and 'up'.
to look at, listen to, or experience something with great pleasure and full attention (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + drink + noun/pronoun + in (or: drink in + noun)
Wrong: He was so thirsty that he drank the cold water in. Right: He was so thirsty that he drank the cold water down. 'Drink in' is only used figuratively for absorbing experiences or sights, not for consuming actual liquids.
Do not use this for actually consuming liquids; it is only used figuratively for experiences, sights, and sounds.
to try to explain or suggest something without saying it directly (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + be + driving at + noun/pronoun
Wrong: I don't know what are you driving. Right: I don't know what you are driving at. You must include the preposition 'at' to keep this meaning, and use indirect question word order.
This phrase is almost always used in the continuous form ('driving at') and in questions or indirect questions.
to force prices, costs, or rates to become lower (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + drive down + noun/pronoun OR subject + drive + noun/pronoun + down
Wrong: The government wants to drive down the unemployment. Right: The government wants to drive down unemployment. We do not use the definite article 'the' before abstract nouns like 'unemployment' when speaking generally.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of driving a vehicle down a street or hill.
to force an attacking enemy, animal, or crowd to retreat or move away (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + drive + object (noun/pronoun) + back
Wrong: The firefighters drove back the crowd from the burning building. Right: The firefighters drove the crowd back from the burning building. When using a pronoun or a short noun phrase as the object, it is much more natural to place it between 'drive' and 'back'.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of giving someone a ride home in a car.
to temporarily lose a signal or connection, especially during a phone call or internet stream (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (signal/connection/voice) + drop out
Wrong: The bad weather dropped out our internet connection. Right: Our internet connection dropped out because of the bad weather. In this sense, 'drop out' is intransitive; the connection itself drops out, you cannot drop out the connection.
In this sense, the verb is intransitive and cannot take an object (you cannot 'drop out a signal').
to believe something completely and immediately without doubting it, especially when it is untrue (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + eat + noun/pronoun + up (or: eat up + noun)
Wrong: She told him a lie and he ate up it. Right: She told him a lie and he ate it up. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not use this in formal writing or professional reports; use 'believe readily' or 'accept unquestioningly' instead.
to use a large amount of something, especially time, money, or resources (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject (activity/cost) + eat up + noun (money/time)
Wrong: These unexpected car repairs ate up it all. Right: These unexpected car repairs ate it all up. If the object is a pronoun (like 'it'), it must be placed between the verb 'eat' and the particle 'up'.
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'eat' and 'up'.
to take part in or do an activity, especially one that takes time (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + engage in + noun / -ing form
Wrong: We engaged in a quick coffee break before the meeting. Right: We took a quick coffee break before the meeting. 'Engage in' is too formal and serious for a short, casual break.
Do not use this in casual, everyday conversations where simpler verbs like 'do', 'play', or 'take part in' sound much more natural.
to formally or legally agree to bind yourself to a contract, agreement, or relationship (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + enter into + noun (contract/agreement/partnership)
Wrong: We entered into the room and sat down. Right: We entered the room and sat down. For physical entry, do not use the preposition 'into' after the verb 'enter'.
Do not use this for casual agreements or physical movement; use 'agree to' or 'go into' instead.
to officially start taking part in a formal agreement, discussion, negotiation, or relationship (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + enter into + noun (agreement/discussion/contract/partnership)
Wrong: She entered into the room and sat down. Right: She entered the room and sat down. For physical entry into a place, the preposition 'into' is incorrect; 'enter' is used directly with the noun.
Do not use this to mean physically walking inside a building or room; for physical spaces, just use 'enter' without 'into'.
to lose control of your emotions because you are going through a very difficult time (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + fall apart
Wrong: When he lost his job, he fell apart himself. Right: When he lost his job, he fell apart. The phrasal verb 'fall apart' is intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'himself'.
Do not confuse this emotional meaning with the physical meaning of 'fall apart', which means to break into pieces.
to move back or retreat, especially in a military situation or to avoid danger (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + fall back (+ to + place)
Wrong: He tripped on a stone and fell back on the grass. Right: He tripped on a stone and fell backward onto the grass. 'Fall back' means to retreat. To describe the physical direction of falling, use 'fall backward'.
Do not confuse this with physically falling backward onto the ground, which is 'fall backward' or 'fall over'.
To fail to do something well, or to make a mistake in a particular area. (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + fall down + (on + noun/gerund)
Wrong: I fell down in my English exam yesterday. Right: I failed my English exam yesterday. 'Fall down' means to have a weak point in a broader plan or system, not to simply fail a test or exam.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of falling to the ground.
to decrease in quantity, quality, activity, or value (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (noun/pronoun) + fall off
Do not confuse this abstract meaning with the physical action of falling off a bike or a ladder.
to become the responsibility or duty of a specific person (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (responsibility/duty/cost) + fall on + someone
Wrong: The responsibility fell me to finish the project. Right: The responsibility fell on me to finish the project. You must use the preposition 'on' to indicate who receives the responsibility.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object (the person) must always come after the preposition 'on'.
to suddenly stop working or crash (used for computer programs, servers, or systems) (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject (system/program) + fall over
Wrong: Our company server fell down yesterday. Right: Our company server fell over yesterday. We use 'fall over' for computer systems crashing. 'Fall down' means to collapse physically to the ground.
Do not use this in formal technical reports; use 'crash' or 'fail' instead.
to give a person or animal plenty of good food to make them healthier or fatter (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + feed + object (person/animal) + up
Wrong: The doctor told me to feed up myself after the surgery. Right: The doctor told me to feed myself up after the surgery. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'myself', 'him', or 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not confuse this with 'be fed up (with)', which means to be bored or annoyed by something.
to try very hard not to show or express a strong feeling, such as tears or anger (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + fight back + noun (or: fight + pronoun + back)
Wrong: She fought back to cry when she heard the bad news. Right: She fought back tears when she heard the bad news. We do not use an infinitive verb after 'fight back'; we must use a noun object like 'tears' or 'emotions'.
This sense is transitive and is almost always used with specific nouns like tears, laughter, or emotions.
to become larger, rounder, or more muscular as you grow older or gain weight (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + fill out
Wrong: He filled out his body after he started eating more. Right: He filled out after he started eating more. In this sense, 'fill out' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object like 'his body'.
Do not confuse this intransitive meaning with the transitive 'fill out a form', which requires an object.
to discover that someone has been dishonest, lying, or doing something wrong (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + find + person + out
Wrong: He was cheating on the exam but the teacher found out him. Right: He was cheating on the exam but the teacher found him out. When 'find out' means to expose someone's dishonesty, the pronoun object must go between the verb and the particle.
This sense of the phrasal verb is always transitive and almost always used with a person as the direct object.
to suddenly become very angry or emotional (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + fly into + a rage / a temper
Wrong: He flew into anger when I told him the news. Right: He flew into a rage when I told him the news. The phrase 'fly into' requires a specific noun phrase like 'a rage' or 'a temper' rather than the general noun 'anger'.
This phrasal verb is almost always followed by a specific noun representing the emotion, most commonly 'a rage' or 'a temper'.
to run away or escape very quickly, especially because you are scared or guilty (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + fly off + (direction/destination)
Wrong: The thief flew off his bag and ran away. Right: The thief dropped his bag and flew off. The phrasal verb 'fly off' in this sense is intransitive; it cannot take a direct object.
Do not confuse this with 'fly off the handle' (to get very angry) or the literal action of a bird or plane taking off.
to stop hoping for or expecting something you want because a stronger power makes it impossible (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + forget about + noun/gerund
Wrong: The government banned protests, so we must forget it. Right: The government banned protests, so we must forget about them. In this sense of abandoning a hope or right under pressure, 'forget' requires the preposition 'about' followed by an object.
Do not confuse this with simply failing to remember something; this sense implies a forced, painful surrender of a desire.
to suddenly become very angry, scared, or worried and lose control of your behavior (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + freak out + (optional: when/because...)
Wrong: When the spider jumped on her, she made a freak out. Right: When the spider jumped on her, she freaked out. 'Freak out' is a verb, not a noun, so you cannot use it with 'make' or 'do'.
Do not use this in formal writing, business meetings, or professional emails; use 'panic' or 'become upset' instead.
to suddenly become very angry, scared, worried, or excited (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + freak out + (optional: when/because...)
Wrong: I was so freaked out from the loud noise. Right: I freaked out because of the loud noise. While 'freaked out' can be an adjective, the intransitive verb pattern is 'freak out because of/at' rather than 'be freaked out from'.
Do not use this in formal situations, such as business meetings or academic writing, as it is very informal.
to make someone feel very shocked, scared, or extremely anxious (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + freak + object (noun/pronoun) + out
Wrong: The horror movie freaked out me. Right: The horror movie freaked me out. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'me', 'him', 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not use this in formal writing, business emails, or professional contexts; use 'frighten' or 'alarm' instead.
to manage to live, survive, or cope in a situation, especially with limited money (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + get along (+ on/without + noun)
Wrong: We can't get along without a car in this remote village. Right: We can't get by without a car in this remote village. While 'get along' is grammatically correct here, 'get by' is much more natural and common for surviving or managing without a specific physical object.
Do not confuse this with the much more common meaning of having a friendly relationship with someone ('get along with someone').
to find a way of avoiding a difficult rule, law, or problem without breaking it (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + get around + noun/pronoun/-ing
Wrong: We found a clever way to get the rule around. Right: We found a clever way to get around the rule. The phrasal verb 'get around' is inseparable, so the object cannot be placed between 'get' and 'around'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'around', even if it is a pronoun like 'it'.
to find a way to avoid doing a duty, rule, or unpleasant chore (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + get around + noun / -ing form
Wrong: He tried to get it around by making an excuse. Right: He tried to get around it by making an excuse. The phrasal verb 'get around' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'it' must go after 'around'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'around', even if it is a pronoun like 'it'.
to try to suggest or say something indirectly (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + be + getting at + noun/pronoun
Wrong: What are you getting at it? Right: What are you getting at? The preposition 'at' must be followed directly by its object (or the question word 'what' at the beginning), so you cannot add an extra pronoun like 'it' at the end.
This phrasal verb is almost always used in the continuous form ('getting at') and is inseparable.
to do something bad or wrong without being punished or caught (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + get away with + noun / -ing form
Wrong: He stole the money but he got away with. Right: He stole the money but he got away with it. The phrasal verb 'get away with' always requires an object. If you do not name the specific action, you must use the pronoun 'it'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'with', even if it is a pronoun like 'it'.
to manage, cope, or make progress with a new situation, task, or tool (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + get on with + noun / pronoun / -ing form
Wrong: How do you get on with your new job? Right: How are you getting on with your new job? We usually use the continuous form 'getting on' when asking about ongoing progress or adaptation.
Do not confuse this with 'get on with someone', which means to have a friendly relationship with a person.
to avoid doing something you do not want to do, or to escape a difficult situation (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + get out + (of + noun/gerund)
Wrong: I want to get out from this boring meeting. Right: I want to get out of this boring meeting. We use the preposition 'of', not 'from', after 'get out' when specifying the situation we are escaping.
When followed by an object, you must use the preposition 'of' (get out of the meeting).
to succeed in swallowing food, drink, or medicine, especially when it is difficult (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + get + noun/pronoun + down
Wrong: The medicine was bitter but I got down it. Right: The medicine was bitter but I got it down. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'it' must always go between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'get' and 'down'.
to use, consume, or spend a large amount of something (like money, food, or supplies) (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + get through + noun (usually plural or uncountable)
Wrong: We got the coffee through in just two days. Right: We got through the coffee in just two days. In this sense, 'get through' is inseparable, so the noun object cannot go between 'get' and 'through'.
Unlike some other phrasal verbs, this sense of 'get through' is inseparable; the object must always come after 'through'.
to lose control of your behavior because you are extremely excited, angry, or enthusiastic about something (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + get/be + carried away (+ by/with + noun)
Wrong: The music was so beautiful that it carried me away. Right: The music was so beautiful that I got carried away. In modern English, to express losing control due to emotion, we use the passive form 'get/be carried away' rather than the active 'it carried me away'.
This sense is almost always used in the passive voice with 'get' or 'be', not in the active voice.
to become involved in a difficult, unexpected, or unpleasant situation without intending to (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + get/be caught up + in + noun/gerund
Wrong: I was caught up into their family argument yesterday. Right: I was caught up in their family argument yesterday. We use the preposition 'in' (not 'into' or 'to') with this phrasal verb to show involvement in a situation.
This phrase is almost always used in the passive voice ('be caught up' or 'get caught up') followed by the preposition 'in'.
to help other people, for example by doing volunteer work or donating money, because you have been successful (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + give back + (to + community/society/charity)
Wrong: She wants to give back the society by helping poor children. Right: She wants to give back to society by helping poor children. When you want to help society in general, you must use the preposition 'to' after 'give back'.
In this charitable sense, 'give back' is usually intransitive (often followed by 'to') and is not split; do not confuse it with the literal 'give something back' (to return an object).
to collapse, break, or fall inward because of weight or pressure (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (structure/surface) + give in
Wrong: The bridge gave in because of the flood. Right: The bridge gave way because of the flood. While 'give in' is used for structures collapsing inward or downward (like roofs), 'give way' is the more natural and common term for bridges or roads collapsing.
Do not confuse this physical meaning with the much more common figurative meaning 'to surrender or agree to something'.
to produce and send something like heat, light, a smell, or a signal into the air (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject (source) + give out + noun (heat/light/smell/signal)
Wrong: The chimney was giving out a black smoke. Right: The chimney was giving out black smoke. Smoke is an uncountable noun in this context and should not be used with the indefinite article 'a'.
Do not confuse this with the meaning 'to stop working' (e.g., 'my legs gave out') or 'to distribute' (e.g., 'giving out leaflets').
to cause something to happen or exist, especially a problem, doubt, or change (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject (event/action) + give rise to + noun (result)
Wrong: The heavy rain gave rise to the grass to grow faster. Right: The heavy rain caused the grass to grow faster. The phrase 'give rise to' must be followed by a noun phrase, not an infinitive verb pattern.
Avoid using this in casual, everyday conversations where simpler verbs like 'cause' or 'lead to' are more natural.
to hand over a criminal or suspect to the police, or to reveal their hiding place (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + give + someone + up + to + authority
Wrong: The criminal decided to give up himself to the sheriff. Right: The criminal decided to give himself up to the sheriff. Reflexive pronouns like 'himself' must always be placed between the verb 'give' and the particle 'up'.
If the person being surrendered is represented by a pronoun (him, her, them), the pronoun must go between 'give' and 'up'.
to sell something for a very low price, almost as if it were free (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + give + noun/pronoun + away (often used with 'practically' or 'almost')
Wrong: The car was so cheap, he gave it away to me for fifty dollars. Right: The car was so cheap, he practically gave it away to me for fifty dollars. Without 'practically' or 'almost', 'give away' usually means donating for free (0 dollars), which contradicts 'for fifty dollars'.
Do not confuse this with giving something for free as a gift; in this sense, money is still exchanged.
to lose or hand over control, power, or an advantage to someone else (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + give + noun/pronoun + away
Wrong: The team gave away their lead to the opponent team. Right: The team gave their lead away to the opponent. While grammatically acceptable, when using a short noun phrase like 'their lead', it is much more natural to split the phrasal verb.
Do not confuse this with giving something as a free gift, which is the more common meaning of this phrase.
to start dealing with a problem, task, or job in a particular way (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + go about + noun / pronoun / -ing verb
Wrong: How should I go about to solve this problem? Right: How should I go about solving this problem? The phrasal verb 'go about' must be followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive with 'to'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable and is almost always followed by 'something', 'it', or a gerund (-ing form).
to attack someone physically or start a very angry argument with them (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + go at + someone
Wrong: The angry dog went at to the postman. Right: The angry dog went at the postman. The phrasal verb 'go at' is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'to'.
Do not use this in formal or professional contexts; it is very informal and describes uncontrolled anger.
to start dealing with a problem, task, or project in a particular way (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + go at + noun/pronoun (+ adverb/prepositional phrase)
Wrong: Let's go at it to solve. Right: Let's go at it this way. 'Go at' is followed by a noun, pronoun, or a description of the method (e.g., 'this way', 'from another angle'), not an infinitive of purpose.
This phrasal verb is inseparable and is almost always followed by a noun or a pronoun like 'it'.
to join other people to share the cost of buying something together (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + go in + on + noun (gift/present/pizza) + with + someone
Wrong: We went in a present for our teacher. Right: We went in on a present for our teacher. You must use the preposition 'on' before the noun representing the item you are buying together.
Always use the preposition 'on' for the item being bought, and 'with' for the people you share the cost with.
to examine, discuss, or explain something in detail (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + go into + noun / pronoun / -ing
Wrong: This is a private matter and I don't want to go it into. Right: This is a private matter and I don't want to go into it. The phrasal verb 'go into' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'it' must go after the preposition.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'into', even if it is a pronoun like 'it'.
to start working in a particular career, profession, or field of study (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + go into + noun (career/field)
Wrong: My brother wants to go into the IT. Right: My brother wants to go into IT. We do not use 'the' before general career fields or industries in this context.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the noun or pronoun representing the career must always come after 'into'.
to suddenly become very angry and start shouting or complaining loudly (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + go off + (at/on + person)
Wrong: My father went off himself when he saw the broken window. Right: My father went off when he saw the broken window. The phrasal verb 'go off' is intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'himself'.
This is an informal expression; do not use it in professional or formal writing.
to be received or welcomed by an audience; to create a specific impression (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + go over + adverb + (with + someone)
Wrong: The new policy went over well the employees. Right: The new policy went over well with the employees. You must use the preposition 'with' to introduce the people who are reacting to the idea.
This phrasal verb is intransitive in this sense and is almost always used with an adverb like 'well', 'badly', or 'down'.
to gradually become liked by someone over time, even if they did not like it at first (B2, not separable)
Pattern: something/someone + grow on + someone
Wrong: I am growing on this new style of music. Right: This new style of music is growing on me. The music must be the subject of the sentence, not the person.
The subject of the sentence is the thing or person that becomes liked, and the object is the person who likes it.
to pass a ball directly to a teammate's hands during a sports game (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + hand + noun/pronoun + off (or: hand off + noun)
Wrong: The goalkeeper handed off the ball to the defender. Right: The goalkeeper passed the ball to the defender. In soccer, players do not hand the ball to each other; 'hand off' is only used when physically placing the ball into a teammate's hands, usually in rugby or American football.
Do not confuse this with throwing or kicking the ball; it specifically means passing it directly from hand to hand.
to officially give control of a person (like a suspect or prisoner) to the police or an enemy (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + hand + person + over + to + authority/enemy
Wrong: The police caught the criminal and handed over him to the court. Right: The police caught the criminal and handed him over to the court. When the object is a pronoun like 'him', it must be placed between 'hand' and 'over'.
If the person being delivered is represented by a pronoun (him, her, them), it must go between 'hand' and 'over'.
to pass traditions, knowledge, or possessions from older generations to younger ones (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + hand + noun/pronoun + down + (to + someone)
Wrong: My father handed down to me his old watch. Right: My father handed his old watch down to me. When the object is a noun phrase, it is much more natural to place it before 'down' when followed by 'to someone', or simply use 'handed down his old watch to me'.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'hand' and 'down'.
to pass a job, responsibility, or object to the next person, especially when you finish your role (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + hand + noun/pronoun + on + (to + someone)
Wrong: I need to hand on it to the next person. Right: I need to hand it on to the next person. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'it' must go between the verb and the particle.
If the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'hand' and 'on'.
to prevent something bad or unwanted from happening by taking action early (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + head + (noun/pronoun) + off
Wrong: We need to head off it before it gets worse. Right: We need to head it off before it gets worse. Pronouns must always go between the verb 'head' and the particle 'off'.
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'head' and 'off'.
to go in front of someone or something in order to stop them or make them change direction (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + head + object (noun/pronoun) + off
Wrong: We need to head off him before he escapes. Right: We need to head him off before he escapes. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'him', 'her', 'it', 'them'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not confuse this with the intransitive 'head off', which simply means to leave or depart.
to become more active, busy, exciting, or intense (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (situation, competition, debate) + heat up
Wrong: The discussion heated up itself after his comment. Right: The discussion heated up after his comment. In this figurative sense, 'heat up' is intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'itself'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal sense of making food hot.
to use someone or something as an excuse to avoid taking responsibility or facing criticism (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + hide behind + noun/pronoun
Wrong: He always hides behind of his mother when he makes a mistake. Right: He always hides behind his mother when he makes a mistake. The phrasal verb 'hide behind' is followed directly by the object, without the preposition 'of'.
Do not confuse this metaphorical sense with the physical action of hiding behind an object like a wall.
to suddenly think of a good idea, a solution, or a plan (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + hit on + noun/gerund
Wrong: We hit on how to solve the problem. Right: We hit on a way to solve the problem. The phrasal verb 'hit on' must be followed by a noun phrase (like 'a way' or 'an idea'), not directly by a 'how' clause.
Be careful: 'hit on someone' (with a person as the object) has a completely different, informal meaning of showing sexual or romantic interest.
to suddenly tell someone some surprising, shocking, or difficult news (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + hit + person + with + news/question/information
Wrong: She hit with me the truth about her past. Right: She hit me with the truth about her past. The person being told the news must always come directly after the verb 'hit'.
Do not use this in formal business reports or serious academic writing, as it is highly informal.
to suddenly surprise someone with something unpleasant, such as a bad news, a bill, or a punishment (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + hit + person + with + noun
Wrong: The government hit with a new tax the citizens. Right: The government hit citizens with a new tax. The object (the person being hit) must come immediately after the verb 'hit', before the preposition 'with'.
This is an informal expression; do not use it in formal legal or official business correspondence.
to not use all your effort, power, or emotion; to act with reserve (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + hold back (+ in/from)
Wrong: He wanted to say the truth but he held back himself. Right: He wanted to say the truth but he held back. In this intransitive sense, 'hold back' does not use a reflexive pronoun like 'himself'.
In this intransitive sense (meaning to hesitate or restrain oneself), the verb cannot take a direct object.
to keep a winning position, lead, or advantage when someone is trying to take it from you (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + hold on (+ to win/for the victory)
Wrong: The runner held on his lead until the finish line. Right: The runner held on to his lead until the finish line. In this sense, 'hold on' is intransitive. To connect it to a noun like 'lead', you must use the preposition 'to'.
In this sense, 'hold on' is intransitive and cannot be followed by a direct object; use 'hold on to' if you want to mention the advantage.
to refuse to accept an offer because you hope to get a better one later (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + hold out + (for + noun)
Wrong: The union is holding out a better contract. Right: The union is holding out for a better contract. You must use the preposition 'for' before the noun representing what you want to get.
This phrasal verb is intransitive; if you want to mention the desired object, you must use the preposition 'for'.
to stop someone from making progress or developing, or to make a student repeat a school year (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + hold + object (person) + back
Wrong: The teacher decided to hold back him because of his bad grades. Right: The teacher decided to hold him back because of his bad grades. Pronoun objects must always be placed between the verb 'hold' and the particle 'back'.
When using a pronoun (like him, her, or them) as the object, it must go between 'hold' and 'back'.
to keep someone in a prison, police station, or other place they cannot leave (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + hold + someone + in + [location/custody]
Wrong: The police are holding in him at the local station. Right: The police are holding him in at the local station. When the object is a pronoun (like 'him'), it must go between the verb 'hold' and the particle 'in'.
This is almost always used in the passive voice ('be held in') or with a specific location like 'custody' or 'prison'.
to direct your attention toward something or move closer to a target (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + home in on + noun/gerund
Wrong: We need to home in the main issue during the meeting. Right: We need to home in on the main issue during the meeting. The phrasal verb 'home in' always requires the preposition 'on' when it is followed by an object.
Do not confuse this with 'hone in on'; although 'hone' is sometimes used by native speakers, 'home in on' is the historically correct and preferred form.
to move directly towards a target, destination, or signal (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + home in + on + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The sharks homed in the injured fish from miles away. Right: The sharks homed in on the injured fish from miles away. The phrasal verb 'home in' requires the preposition 'on' before the object.
Do not confuse this with 'hone in on', which is a common but often criticized variation meaning to focus attention on something.
to suddenly interrupt a conversation or join in speaking, often to add a point or help someone (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + jump in (+ to do something)
Wrong: He jumped in me while I was speaking. Right: He jumped in while I was speaking. The phrasal verb 'jump in' cannot take a direct object. To specify the person, you would have to say 'jumped in on me' or use the verb 'interrupt'.
If you want to mention the person you are interrupting, you must use 'jump in on someone' or 'interrupt someone' instead.
to criticize someone immediately and severely as soon as they make a mistake (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + jump on + someone (or: jump on + someone + for + -ing/noun)
Wrong: My teacher jumped on me because I was late. Right: My teacher jumped on me for being late. To state the reason for the criticism, we use the preposition 'for' followed by a noun or gerund, not 'because'.
Do not confuse this with physically jumping onto an object or animal.
to quickly accept or take advantage of an opportunity, offer, or idea without waiting (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + jump on + noun / pronoun
Wrong: The price was so good that I jumped on the offer it. Right: The price was so good that I jumped on the offer. This phrasal verb is inseparable and transitive; you cannot put an extra pronoun 'it' after the noun object.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of jumping onto a physical object, or the informal meaning of criticizing someone angrily.
to be very easy to notice or see immediately (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + jump out + (at + object)
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal action of physically leaping out of a place, like a window or a car.
to start doing a task or obeying an order immediately and quickly (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + jump to + noun / -ing form
Wrong: When the bell rang, the soldiers jumped to obey. Right: When the bell rang, the soldiers jumped to attention. The phrase 'jump to' is followed by a noun or '-ing', or used in the fixed idiom 'jump to it'. It is not followed directly by an infinitive verb.
Do not confuse this with 'jump to conclusions', which means to judge a situation too quickly.
to continue talking about something in an annoying way (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + keep on + about + noun/pronoun (or: subject + keep on + -ing form)
Wrong: She keeps on to talk about her ex-boyfriend. Right: She keeps on talking about her ex-boyfriend. After 'keep on', we must use the -ing form of the verb, not the infinitive.
Do not confuse this with 'keep on doing something' which simply means to continue an action without the negative connotation of talking.
to continue doing something at a high level, or to maintain a house, garden, or tradition (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + keep + noun/pronoun + up
Wrong: You must keep up it because your English is getting better. Right: You must keep it up because your English is getting better. The pronoun 'it' must be placed between the verb 'keep' and the particle 'up'.
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'keep' and 'up'.
to know about and follow the latest trends, fashions, or news (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + keep up with + noun/pronoun
Wrong: I read fashion magazines to keep up myself with the trends. Right: I read fashion magazines to keep up with the trends. The phrasal verb 'keep up with' is not reflexive and does not take 'myself', 'yourself', etc.
This phrasal verb is inseparable, meaning the object must always come after the preposition 'with'.
to understand a conversation, explanation, or argument as it is happening (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + keep up with + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The teacher spoke too quickly and I couldn't keep it up with. Right: The teacher spoke too quickly and I couldn't keep up with her. The phrasal verb 'keep up with' cannot be separated; the object must go at the very end.
This phrasal verb is inseparable, meaning the object must always come after 'with', even if it is a pronoun like 'it' or 'him'.
To contribute money or help to a joint effort or collection. (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + kick in + (amount of money / noun)
Wrong: We all kicked in the money to the charity organization. Right: We all donated money to the charity organization. 'Kick in' is too informal for official charity donations; 'donate' is the correct verb here.
Do not use this in formal business transactions or official charity donations; use 'contribute' instead.
to finally agree on a decision, choice, or idea after discussing different options (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + land on + noun/pronoun
Wrong: We finally landed on to go to Italy for our holiday. Right: We finally landed on going to Italy for our holiday. The preposition 'on' must be followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of falling or arriving on a surface.
to treat a danger, warning, or difficulty as if it is not serious or important (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + laugh at + noun/pronoun
Wrong: She laughed to the rules and did whatever she wanted. Right: She laughed at the rules and did whatever she wanted. The phrasal verb always requires the preposition 'at', not 'to'.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of making sounds of amusement; here, it means showing a lack of fear or respect.
to put something in place on the ground, especially tracks, pipes, or a road surface (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + lay + noun/pronoun + down (or: lay down + noun)
Wrong: They are lying down new pipes in our street. Right: They are laying down new pipes in our street. The verb 'lie' is intransitive and means to recline. For placing objects on the ground, you must use the transitive verb 'lay'.
Do not confuse this with 'lie down', which is what a person does when they want to rest on a bed.
to give up or surrender weapons or power, often by placing them on the ground (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + lay down + noun/pronoun (or: lay + noun/pronoun + down)
Wrong: The enemy soldiers lied down their weapons. Right: The enemy soldiers laid down their weapons. The past tense of the transitive verb 'lay' is 'laid', not 'lied' (which is the past tense of 'lie' meaning to tell an untruth).
Do not confuse this transitive verb with the intransitive 'lie down' (to rest on a bed).
to stop doing, using, or consuming something, especially because it is bad for you (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + lay off + noun / -ing form
Wrong: I decided to lay off to smoke. Right: I decided to lay off smoking. The phrasal verb 'lay off' must be followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.
Do not use this in formal or professional writing; use 'stop' or 'abstain from' instead.
to provide something, especially food, drink, or entertainment, for a group of people (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + lay on + noun / subject + lay + noun/pronoun + on
Wrong: The hotel lays on a free breakfast for every guests. Right: The hotel lays on a free breakfast for all guests. The determiner 'every' must be followed by a singular noun ('every guest'), whereas 'all' is used with plural nouns.
Do not use this in formal business contexts; use 'provide' or 'arrange' instead.
to provide food, drinks, or entertainment for people at a party or event, usually for free (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + lay + noun/pronoun + on (or: lay on + noun)
Wrong: The hotel laid on us a free breakfast. Right: The hotel laid on a free breakfast for us. The object of 'lay on' is the food or service provided, not the people receiving it.
Do not use this in formal business contexts; use 'provide' or 'cater' instead.
to explain something, such as a plan or an idea, in a clear and detailed way (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + lay + noun/pronoun + out
Wrong: She laid out to me the plan very carefully. Right: She laid the plan out to me very carefully. The direct object (the plan) should come before 'out' or immediately after the whole phrasal verb, not after the prepositional phrase 'to me'.
When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'lay' and 'out'.
to move the top part of your body forward or closer to someone or something (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + lean in + (optional: to/towards + noun)
Wrong: He leaned himself in to see the picture better. Right: He leaned in to see the picture better. The phrasal verb 'lean in' is intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'himself'.
Do not confuse this physical meaning with the business/feminist idiom 'lean in', which means to assert oneself at work.
to actively accept a challenge and act with confidence and determination to succeed (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + lean in + (optional: to + noun/gerund)
Wrong: When the crisis started, she leaned herself in to solve it. Right: When the crisis started, she leaned in to solve it. The phrasal verb 'lean in' is intransitive and cannot be used with a reflexive pronoun like 'herself'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of bending your body forward.
to depend on someone for help, advice, or emotional support during a difficult time (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + lean on + person
Wrong: She is a very strong person who never leans on nobody. Right: She is a very strong person who never leans on anyone. In English, we use 'anyone' instead of 'nobody' after a negative word like 'never' to avoid a double negative.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with physically resting your body against something, which is also 'lean on'.
to pressure or threaten someone to make them do what you want (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + lean on + someone
Wrong: The police leaned on him to tell the truth, so he felt very supported. Right: The police leaned on him to tell the truth, so he felt very intimidated. In this sense, 'lean on' means to pressure or threaten someone, not to support them.
Do not confuse this with the positive meaning of 'leaning on someone' for emotional support or help during a difficult time.
to stop doing something with the intention of continuing it later (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + leave off (+ where/at...)
Wrong: We will leave off the project now and finish it tomorrow. Right: We will leave off here and finish the project tomorrow. In this sense, 'leave off' is intransitive and cannot be followed directly by an object like 'the project'.
In this sense, 'leave off' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object; do not say 'leave off the book'.
to stop doing something, or to stop at a certain point in an activity (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + leave off + (noun / -ing verb)
Wrong: We had to leave off the meeting because of the fire alarm. Right: We had to cut short the meeting because of the fire alarm. 'Leave off' means to stop an ongoing activity to resume it later, or to cease a habit. It cannot be used to mean 'interrupt' or 'cancel' an event.
This phrase is informal and is more common in spoken British English; in formal writing, use 'stop' or 'cease'.
to die and have family members who are still alive (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (deceased person) + leave behind + object (surviving family)
Wrong: He died and left his wife behind him. Right: He died and left behind his wife. In this sense, we do not use a pronoun like 'him' after 'behind', and the object should come directly after the whole phrase 'leave behind'.
In this specific sense, the phrasal verb is not separable; you cannot put the object between 'leave' and 'behind'.
to not include someone or something on a list (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + leave + noun/pronoun + off + (noun)
Wrong: Please don't leave off me from the invitation list. Right: Please don't leave me off the invitation list. When the object is a pronoun (me), it must go between the verb 'leave' and the particle 'off'.
If you use a pronoun (like 'him', 'her', or 'it'), it must go between 'leave' and 'off'.
to make a piece of clothing longer by letting out the folded edge (the hem) (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + let + noun/pronoun + down
Wrong: I need to prolong my skirt because it is too short. Right: I need to let my skirt down because it is too short. In English, we do not use 'prolong' for making clothes longer; 'let down' or 'lengthen' is used instead.
Do not confuse this with the common emotional meaning 'to disappoint someone' (e.g., 'Don't let me down').
to allow someone to use a house, room, or land in exchange for regular payment (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + let + noun/pronoun + out + (to + someone)
Wrong: We let out a flat from a local landlord. Right: We rented a flat from a local landlord. 'Let out' means to rent your own property to someone else, not to pay to use someone else's property.
Do not confuse this with 'let out' meaning to make clothes wider or to make a sound.
to find your main reason to stay alive or keep going in a person or thing (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + live for + noun/pronoun
Wrong: After losing his job, he had no one to live for him. Right: After losing his job, he had nothing to live for. The preposition 'for' must come at the end of the relative clause, and 'him' is incorrect here because the subject is living for a purpose, not another person living on his behalf.
Do not confuse this with the more common B1 meaning 'to love something very much' (e.g., 'she lives for fashion').
to look forward to a future event with great excitement and anticipation (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + live for + noun (usually a future event)
Wrong: I am living for the next Friday. Right: I live for next Friday. This phrasal verb is state-like and is almost always used in the simple present tense, not the continuous form.
Do not confuse this with 'living for' a hobby or person in the sense of dedicating your whole life to them.
to continue to exist or be remembered after a long time or after someone's death (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (memory/tradition/legacy) + live on
Wrong: His legacy will live on us forever. Right: His legacy will live on forever. In this sense, 'live on' is an intransitive verb and does not take a direct object or a prepositional phrase like 'on us'.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning 'to survive on a specific food or amount of money'.
to be as good as what people expected or hoped for (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + live up to + noun (expectations/hype/reputation)
Wrong: The hotel did not live up our expectations. Right: The hotel did not live up to our expectations. You must always use the preposition 'to' before the noun that represents the expectation.
This phrasal verb is intransitive on its own but is almost always used with the preposition 'to' followed by a noun.
to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation because you cannot change it (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + live with + noun / pronoun / -ing form
Wrong: The salary is not great, but I can live with. Right: The salary is not great, but I can live with it. This phrasal verb is transitive and always needs an object, such as 'it' or a noun.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of sharing a home with someone (e.g., 'I live with my brother').
to secure a specific price, rate, or deal so that it cannot change in the future (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + lock in + noun (or: subject + lock + noun/pronoun + in)
Wrong: You should lock in it before the offer expires. Right: You should lock it in before the offer expires. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects must always go between the verb and the particle.
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them' as the object, it must go between 'lock' and 'in'.
to find a target and start following or tracking it automatically, using radar or a camera (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (missile/radar/camera) + lock on + (to + noun)
Wrong: The camera locked the face of the speaker. Right: The camera locked on to the face of the speaker. Without the preposition 'on to', the verb 'lock' just means to close something with a key, not to track a target.
When used with an object, you must use the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'lock on to the target').
to secure a rate, price, or agreement so that it cannot change or be lost (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + lock + object (rate/price/customer) + in
Wrong: We locked in a very good price of the car. Right: We locked in a very good price for the car. We lock in a price 'for' an item, not 'of' it.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with physically locking someone inside a room with a key.
to want to see someone very much because you miss them and they are far away (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + long for + person
Wrong: I am longing for you, can you pass me the salt? Right: I missed you, can you pass me the salt? 'Long for' is too intense and dramatic for casual, everyday situations where you just want someone's presence nearby.
Do not use this in casual everyday conversations; it sounds very dramatic and poetic compared to 'miss'.
to deliberately ignore a problem, bad situation, or wrongdoing instead of dealing with it (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + look away (often used with 'cannot' or 'decide to')
Wrong: The government looked away from the rising inflation. Right: The government ignored the rising inflation. In this figurative sense, 'look away' is usually intransitive and does not take a direct object with 'from' when referring to abstract economic problems.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of turning your eyes in another direction.
to think about a past decision with regret or to change your mind about it (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + verb (usually 'never') + look back
Wrong: I decided to sell my car and I don't look back. Right: I decided to sell my car and I've never looked back. To express that you do not regret a past decision, the present perfect with 'never' is the standard idiomatic construction.
In this specific sense of 'regret', it is almost always used in the negative form 'never look back' or 'without looking back'.
to think that you are better or more important than someone else (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + look down on + person/group/thing
Wrong: He looks down to people who have less money than him. Right: He looks down on people who have less money than him. The correct preposition in this phrasal verb is 'on', not 'to'.
Do not confuse this with physically looking downwards from a high place.
To consider or think of someone or something in a specific way. (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + look on + object + as + noun/adjective
Wrong: She looks on her job like a hobby. Right: She looks on her job as a hobby. After 'look on someone/something', you must use 'as', not 'like', to express the role or quality.
This phrase is almost always used with the preposition 'as' followed by a noun or adjective.
to pretend not to see someone, or to stare at them as if they are not there (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + look + right/straight + through + object (person)
Wrong: She was angry with me, so she looked through myself. Right: She was angry with me, so she looked through me. The object pronoun must be a standard object pronoun (me, him, her), not a reflexive pronoun (myself), even if the subject and object refer to the same interaction.
Do not confuse this with 'look through something' (like a book or window), which means to examine or peer through.
to plan, intend, or hope to do something, especially in a professional context (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + look to + infinitive
Wrong: I am looking to buy some milk from the corner shop. Right: I am going to buy some milk from the corner shop. 'Look to' is too formal for simple, everyday personal errands.
Do not use this in casual, everyday conversations where 'plan to' or 'want to' sounds much more natural.
to hope that someone will give you help, advice, or inspiration (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + look to + person + (for + noun / to + infinitive)
Wrong: We are looking to our teacher to help us with the project. Right: We are looking to our teacher for help with the project. While 'look to someone to do something' is grammatically correct, when followed by a noun like 'help', you must use the preposition 'for' (look to someone for help).
Do not confuse this with 'look forward to' (anticipating something good) or 'look at' (using your eyes).
to improve or start to get better after a difficult period (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: situation + be + looking up
Wrong: I am looking up because I got a new job. Right: My situation is looking up because I got a new job. The subject of 'look up' in this sense must be a situation or 'things', not a person.
This sense is intransitive and is almost always used in the progressive form (looking up) with a situation as the subject.
to help to make something possible or to create a particular result (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + make for + noun
Wrong: The bad weather made for us to stay at home. Right: The bad weather made us stay at home. The phrasal verb 'make for' must be followed directly by a noun representing the resulting situation, not an object + infinitive pattern.
Do not confuse this with the physical meaning 'to move quickly towards a place'.
to start moving quickly towards a specific place, especially because you need to get there (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + make for + noun (place)
Wrong: When the bell rang, the students made the door for. Right: When the bell rang, the students made for the door. The phrasal verb 'make for' is inseparable, so the destination must always come after 'for'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; you cannot put the destination between 'make' and 'for'.
to understand or have an opinion about someone or something (B2, not separable)
Pattern: what + do/does/did + subject + make of + noun/pronoun
Wrong: What do you think of making of his new proposal? Right: What do you make of his new proposal? Do not mix 'think of' and 'make of' in the same question; 'what do you make of...' already means 'what do you think of...'.
This phrase is almost always used in questions with 'what' or in negative statements with 'can't' or 'don't know'.
to write or fill in the details on an official document, such as a cheque or receipt (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + make + document + out + to + person/organization
Wrong: Please make out it to my name. Right: Please make it out to my name. With phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'it' must go between the verb and the particle.
When using a pronoun like 'it', you must put it between 'make' and 'out' (e.g., 'make it out to me').
to behave in a silly, playful, or non-serious way, often for fun (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + mess around (+ with + someone)
Wrong: The teacher was angry because the students were messing around themselves. Right: The teacher was angry because the students were messing around. The phrasal verb 'mess around' is intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'themselves'.
Do not use this in formal situations, such as a job interview or a serious academic essay.
to have a casual sexual or romantic relationship with someone, especially when you should not (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + mess around + (with + someone)
Wrong: She found out that her husband was messing around her. Right: She found out that her husband was messing around with her. You must use the preposition 'with' before the person when 'mess around' means having a relationship.
This is informal and can sometimes imply cheating, so avoid using it in polite or professional contexts.
to touch, play with, or try to repair something in a casual or careless way (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + mess around with + noun
Wrong: Don't mess around my phone. Right: Don't mess around with my phone. In this sense of touching or playing with an object, the phrasal verb must be followed by the preposition 'with'.
This is an informal phrase; do not use it in professional or formal writing to describe technical work.
to make something dirty, untidy, or disorganized (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + mess + noun/pronoun + up
Wrong: The dog messed up the kitchen with his dirty paws. Right: The dog messed the kitchen up with his dirty paws. While both are grammatically correct, when using a pronoun or a short noun phrase, it is much more natural for native speakers to split this separable phrasal verb.
This is informal; in formal writing, use words like 'disorganize', 'disorder', or 'make untidy'.
to spoil something or make a mistake in it, so that it is no longer correct or successful (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + mess + noun/pronoun + up OR subject + mess up + noun
Wrong: I am sorry that I messed up your book with water. Right: I am sorry that I ruined your book with water. We use 'mess up' for plans, tasks, or situations, but not usually for physical damage to objects where 'ruin' or 'damage' is better.
Avoid using this in formal writing or professional business reports; use 'ruin' or 'make a mistake' instead.
To play a joke on someone, tease them, or try to make them believe something that is not true. (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + mess with + person
Wrong: He was messing with me because he told me a lie. Right: He was messing with me when he told me that lie. We usually say someone 'is messing with' someone 'when' or 'by' doing something, rather than using 'because' to explain the joke itself.
Do not use this in formal or professional situations, as it is very informal and can sometimes sound slightly aggressive if the tone is wrong.
to touch, change, or try to fix something when you should not (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + mess with + noun/pronoun
Wrong: Please do not mess with my plans. Right: Please don't mess up my plans. / Please don't ruin my plans. 'Mess with' means to touch or interfere with a physical object or system. To spoil or ruin plans, use 'mess up' or 'ruin'.
This is an informal phrase; do not use it in formal business reports or academic writing where 'interfere with' or 'tamper with' is preferred.
to adopt modern ideas, technology, or methods instead of staying old-fashioned (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + move forward + (with + noun)
Wrong: The company decided to move forward its technology. Right: The company decided to move forward with its technology. In this sense, 'move forward' is intransitive. You cannot put an object directly after it; you must use 'with' to connect it to a noun.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning of modernizing with the literal physical movement of walking or stepping forward.
to come closer to someone or something, especially to surround, attack, or take control of them (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + move in + (on + object)
Wrong: The soldiers moved in the enemy camp during the night. Right: The soldiers moved in on the enemy camp during the night. To specify the target you are closing in on, you must use the preposition 'on' after 'move in'.
Do not confuse this with the much more common A2 sense of 'move in', which means to start living in a new house.
to make a plan, project, or process make progress or develop more quickly (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + move + noun/pronoun + forward
Wrong: We need to move forward the project as soon as possible. Right: We need to move the project forward as soon as possible. When using this transitive phrasal verb, it is much more natural to place the noun object between 'move' and 'forward'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with physically moving an object closer to the front.
To refuse to allow something, especially when trying to be generous or helpful. (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + would not / will not + hear of + noun/pronoun/gerund
Wrong: I wanted to pay for dinner, but he didn't hear of it. Right: I wanted to pay for dinner, but he wouldn't hear of it. With this meaning, we use 'would not' or 'will not' instead of 'did not' to express refusal.
This sense is almost always used in the negative form, especially as 'would not hear of it' or 'won't hear of it'.
to accept or tolerate bad behavior, treatment, or a difficult situation (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + will/would not + stand for + noun/pronoun/-ing form
Wrong: I will not stand for him to treat me like this. Right: I will not stand for him treating me like this. The phrasal verb 'stand for' must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or an -ing verb, not an infinitive with 'to'.
This sense is almost always used in the negative (e.g., 'will not stand for') or in questions.
to experience a difficult period, stage, or process that eventually ends (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + pass through + noun (usually a phase, stage, or difficult period)
Wrong: He is passing through a depression because he lost his job. Right: He is going through a depression because he lost his job. We usually 'pass through' temporary stages, phases, or periods, but for specific mental states like depression or grief, 'go through' is much more natural.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of traveling through a place without stopping.
to hurt or punish someone who has done something bad to you; to get revenge (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + pay + object (person) + back + (for + noun/gerund)
Wrong: He stole my idea, but I will pay back him. Right: He stole my idea, but I will pay him back. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'him', 'her', 'them'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not confuse this with the financial meaning of returning borrowed money, which is much more common.
to give someone money secretly or illegally so they will not report a crime or cause trouble (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + pay + person + off
Wrong: The businessman paid off to the inspector to pass the safety check. Right: The businessman paid off the inspector to pass the safety check. The phrasal verb 'pay off' is transitive and takes a direct object; you do not use the preposition 'to' before the person being bribed.
This is an informal term; in formal or legal contexts, use the word 'bribe' instead.
to crash into each other, usually involving several vehicles in a traffic accident (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (plural, e.g., cars/vehicles) + pile up
Wrong: The driver piled up his car into the truck. Right: The driver crashed his car into the truck. In this sense, 'pile up' is intransitive and refers to multiple vehicles crashing together. You cannot 'pile up' a single car as an active object.
In this sense, 'pile up' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object; do not say 'he piled up his car'.
to do an activity or job half-heartedly, without being serious or professional about it (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + play at + noun / -ing form
Wrong: He is playing at the guitar for two years but he still cannot play a song. Right: He has been playing at learning the guitar for two years but he still cannot play a song. We do not use 'play at' for actually playing a musical instrument; it must refer to the unserious pursuit of an activity or role.
This phrase is informal and carries a disapproving or critical tone, so avoid using it in formal business evaluations.
to use someone's fears, weaknesses, or feelings to get what you want (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + play on + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The politician played on the people's anger to win the election. Right: The politician played on people's anger to win the election. We do not use 'the' before 'people' when referring to people in general.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of continuing to play a game or music.
to pass the ball to a teammate so they can run forward and attack (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + play + teammate (noun/pronoun) + in
Wrong: The midfielder played in him with a beautiful pass. Right: The midfielder played him in with a beautiful pass. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (him, her, them), it must go between the verb and the particle.
This is a separable phrasal verb; if you use a pronoun like 'him' or 'her', it must go between 'play' and 'in'.
to deceive, trick, or treat someone dishonestly for one's own amusement or advantage (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + play with + person
Wrong: I think he is playing with me because he told me a lie. Right: I think he is playing with me because he keeps changing his mind about our date. Simply telling a lie is not 'playing with someone'; the phrase implies a continuous, manipulative game or trickery over time.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of playing a game or toy with someone; this sense implies manipulation or cruelty.
to put a number or value into a mathematical formula or equation (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + plug + number/value + in (or: plug + in + number/value)
Wrong: You need to plug into the formula the number three. Right: You need to plug the number three into the formula. We plug a value 'into' a formula, not 'plug into' the formula the value.
Do not confuse this mathematical meaning with the physical action of connecting an electrical device to power.
to flow or exit from a place quickly and in very large numbers (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (crowd/people) + pour out + (of + noun)
Wrong: The security guards poured out the people from the cinema. Right: The people poured out of the cinema. In this sense, 'pour out' is intransitive. People pour out by themselves; you cannot 'pour out' other people.
In this sense, the verb is intransitive and cannot be separated; do not put an object between 'pour' and 'out'.
To freely share or distribute a large amount of something (like feelings, information, or money) as if it were liquid. (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + pour + noun/pronoun + out (or: subject + pour out + noun)
Wrong: She poured out her secrets to me, but I didn't want to hear them. Right: She poured her secrets out to me, but I didn't want to hear them. While both are grammatically correct, it is much more natural to split the phrasal verb when referring to personal things like secrets, feelings, or thoughts.
Do not confuse this figurative sense with the literal action of pouring a drink from a bottle into a glass.
to withdraw the penis from the vagina before ejaculation during sex to prevent pregnancy (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + pull out
Wrong: He pulled himself out to prevent pregnancy. Right: He pulled out to prevent pregnancy. In this sexual sense, the phrasal verb is strictly intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'himself'.
This is an informal term; in medical, academic, or formal contexts, use 'coitus interruptus' or 'the withdrawal method'.
to stop being involved in an activity, agreement, or situation; to withdraw forces from a place (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + pull out + (of + noun/pronoun)
Wrong: The company decided to pull out the agreement at the last minute. Right: The company decided to pull out of the agreement at the last minute. You must use the preposition 'of' if you mention the thing you are withdrawing from.
When used with an object, you must use the preposition 'of' (e.g., 'pull out of the deal').
to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + pull + noun/pronoun + off
Wrong: They pulled off to win the championship against all odds. Right: They pulled off a championship win against all odds. The phrasal verb 'pull off' is transitive and requires a noun or pronoun as a direct object, not an infinitive verb.
Avoid using this in formal academic writing or official business reports; use 'achieve' or 'accomplish' instead.
to record the time you arrive at work, usually by putting a card into a machine (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + punch in (+ at + time)
Wrong: I need to punch in my card before I start working. Right: I need to punch in before I start working. In this sense, 'punch in' is intransitive and does not take an object like 'my card'.
In this sense, the verb is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.
to type numbers or information into a device like a computer, phone, or calculator (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + punch + noun/pronoun + in (or: punch + in + noun)
Wrong: I need to punch in it again because it was wrong. Right: I need to punch it in again because it was wrong. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'it' must go between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', you must put it between 'punch' and 'in'.
to eat or drink a large amount of food or alcohol (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + put + noun/pronoun + away (or: put away + noun)
Wrong: He put away a whole pizza and then he put away his toys. Right: He ate a whole pizza and then he put away his toys. Using 'put away' twice in the same sentence with two completely different meanings (to eat vs. to tidy up) is confusing and unnatural.
Do not use this in formal situations or polite dining contexts, as it is very informal and can sound slightly impolite.
to stop a rebellion, protest, or riot by using force. (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + put down + noun/pronoun (or put + noun/pronoun + down)
Wrong: The police put down the peaceful demonstration with tear gas. Right: The police dispersed the peaceful demonstration with tear gas. 'Put down' implies stopping a violent rebellion or riot with strong force; for peaceful protests, 'disperse' or 'break up' is more appropriate.
Do not confuse this with 'put down an animal' (to kill a sick pet painlessly) or 'put someone down' (to insult someone).
to stop someone from concentrating on what they are doing (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + put + person + off
Wrong: Please be quiet, you are putting off me. Right: Please be quiet, you are putting me off. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'me', 'him', 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not confuse this with the meaning 'to postpone' (e.g., 'put off the meeting'), which is a different sense of the same phrasal verb.
to try to make someone believe something that is not true, usually as a joke (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + put + person + on
Wrong: Don't believe him, he is putting on you. Right: Don't believe him, he is putting you on. In this sense, the phrasal verb is transitive and separable; the object pronoun must go between 'put' and 'on'.
Do not use this in formal or professional contexts; it is strictly casual and spoken.
to make someone experience something very difficult, painful, or unpleasant (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + put + person + through + noun (difficulty/ordeal)
Wrong: She put through her family a lot of pain. Right: She put her family through a lot of pain. The object (the person experiencing the pain) must come directly after 'put', not after 'through'.
This verb is always separable; you must place the person being affected between 'put' and 'through'.
to present an idea, proposal, or question to someone for their consideration or decision (B2, separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + put + noun/pronoun + to + someone
Wrong: I would like to put to you a proposal. Right: I would like to put a proposal to you. The noun phrase being proposed must go before the preposition 'to'.
The object (the question or proposal) must come between 'put' and 'to'; you cannot say 'put to someone the question'.
to connect different facts or clues in your mind to understand a situation (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + put + clues/facts/it + together
Wrong: After thinking about it, I put together that he was lying. Right: After thinking about it, I put it together that he was lying. When used with a 'that' clause, you must use the pronoun 'it' as an object before 'together'.
Do not confuse this mental sense with the physical sense of assembling objects like furniture.
to try to achieve a difficult goal, dream, or high standard (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + reach for + noun (usually 'the stars', 'your dreams', 'a goal')
Wrong: She reached for a promotion of manager. Right: She reached for the position of manager. We reach for abstract goals, dreams, or high standards (like 'the top' or 'success'), not specific job titles directly without a noun like 'position' or 'role'.
Do not confuse this metaphorical meaning with the physical action of stretching your hand to grab an object.
to audition for a specific acting role by reading lines from a script (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + read for + role/character
Wrong: I am going to read for the actor tomorrow. Right: I am going to read for the part tomorrow. You read for a role or a character, not for the person who will play it or the director.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object (the role) must always come after the preposition 'for'.
to try to persuade someone to act sensibly by using logical arguments (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + reason with + person
Wrong: I tried to reason him but he refused to change his mind. Right: I tried to reason with him but he refused to change his mind. The phrasal verb 'reason with' always requires the preposition 'with' before the object.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object (the person you are talking to) must always come after 'with'.
to think deeply and carefully about something that happened in the past (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + reflect on + noun / -ing form / question word
Wrong: I need some time to reflect about my future. Right: I need some time to reflect on my future. The phrasal verb 'reflect' always takes the preposition 'on' (or occasionally 'upon'), never 'about'.
Do not confuse this with the physical reflection of light or mirrors; it is only used for mental contemplation.
to depend on something, or to be based on a particular idea or fact (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + rest on + noun/pronoun
Wrong: Our future is resting on your decision. Right: Our future rests on your decision. This state-like sense of 'rest on' is a stative verb and is not normally used in the continuous (-ing) form.
Do not use this in casual, everyday conversations; use 'depend on' or 'rely on' instead.
to have someone or something as the main interest, focus, or most important part (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + revolve around + noun/pronoun
Wrong: Our family plans always revolve our children around. Right: Our family plans always revolve around our children. The phrasal verb 'revolve around' is inseparable, so the object must always go after 'around'.
This phrasal verb is always inseparable; the object must come after the preposition 'around'.
to move in a circle around a central object, like a planet around the sun (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (moving object) + revolve around + object (central point)
Wrong: The Earth revolves about the Sun. Right: The Earth revolves around the Sun. While 'revolve about' is sometimes used in old scientific texts, 'revolve around' is the standard and natural preposition in modern English.
Do not confuse this literal physical movement with the figurative meaning 'to be the most important part of something'.
to celebrate the arrival of a new year or a special event (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + ring in + the New Year / a year
Wrong: We are going to ring in the birthday of my brother tonight. Right: We are going to celebrate my brother's birthday tonight. The phrase 'ring in' is specifically used for the New Year or a new era, not for personal birthdays.
This phrase is almost exclusively used with 'the New Year' or a specific year (e.g., 'ring in 2025').
to remove something from a surface quickly and with force, tearing it (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + rip + noun/pronoun + off (+ noun)
Wrong: He ripped off it from the wall. Right: He ripped it off the wall. If the object is a pronoun (it, them, her), it must go between 'rip' and 'off'.
Do not confuse this literal sense with the informal meaning 'to rip someone off', which means to cheat someone out of money.
to start a fight or rebellion against a government or ruler in order to change a situation (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (people/citizens) + rise up + (against + object)
Wrong: The rebels rose up the government last year. Right: The rebels rose up against the government last year. You cannot 'rise up' a government directly; you must use the preposition 'against' to connect the verb to the object.
This phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot be separated; you must use 'against' to specify the target of the rebellion.
to arrive in large numbers or quantities, continuously and without stopping (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (plural noun or uncountable noun) + roll in
Wrong: The company is rolling in many new complaints this week. Right: Many new complaints are rolling in this week. 'Roll in' is intransitive in this sense; the complaints themselves must be the subject of the sentence.
This phrasal verb is intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object; the things that are arriving are the subject of the sentence.
to decide that something or someone is not possible or suitable from a list of options (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + rule + noun/pronoun + out
Wrong: We can't rule out it because we need more information. Right: We can't rule it out because we need more information. When the object is a pronoun (like 'it'), it must always be placed between the verb 'rule' and the particle 'out'.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'rule' and 'out'.
to try hard to get the attention, love, or business of someone (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + run after + person/thing
Wrong: She is running after of him because she likes him. Right: She is running after him because she likes him. The phrasal verb 'run after' is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'of'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of chasing someone who is running away.
to continue for longer than expected or planned without stopping (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (meeting/event) + run on
Wrong: The presentation ran on itself for an hour. Right: The presentation ran on for an hour. The phrasal verb 'run on' is intransitive and does not need a reflexive pronoun like 'itself'.
This verb is intransitive in this sense, meaning it does not take a direct object.
to continue talking for a very long time, often in a boring or repetitive way (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + run on
Wrong: She ran her speech on for an hour. Right: She ran on for an hour during her speech. In this sense, 'run on' is intransitive and inseparable; you cannot put an object between 'run' and 'on'.
Do not confuse this with 'run on' meaning to be powered by something (e.g., 'cars run on petrol').
to use a specific time zone or system of time to schedule activities (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + run on + time zone
Wrong: Our office runs on the London time. Right: Our office runs on London time. We do not use the definite article 'the' before named time zones like 'London time' or 'GMT'.
This phrasal verb is always followed by a noun phrase representing a time zone or time system, and it cannot be separated.
to find someone or something after searching for them for a long time (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + run + object (noun/pronoun) + down
Wrong: I spent all day trying to run down to my old friend. Right: I spent all day trying to run down my old friend. The phrasal verb 'run down' in this sense is transitive and does not take the preposition 'to' before the object.
Do not confuse this with the meaning 'to hit someone with a car' or 'to criticize someone'.
to criticize someone or something, often unfairly or in an unkind way (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + run + object (noun/pronoun) + down
Wrong: He is always running down his boss, it is very unprofessional. Right: He is always running his boss down, it is very unprofessional. When using a pronoun or a short noun object with 'run down' in this sense, it is much more natural to place the object between 'run' and 'down'.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of hitting someone with a car, or making a battery lose power.
to repeat an experience, a game, or a song; to do something over again (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + run + noun/pronoun + back
Wrong: I really liked the movie, can we run back it? Right: I really liked the movie, can we run it back? When using a pronoun like 'it' with a separable phrasal verb, the pronoun must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not use this in formal or professional writing, as it is highly informal and originates from gaming and hip-hop culture.
to tell someone an idea or plan so they can give you their opinion or approval (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + run + something + by + someone
Wrong: I need to run by this idea to my boss. Right: I need to run this idea by my boss. The object (the idea) must go between 'run' and 'by', and you do not use the preposition 'to' before the person.
This phrasal verb is almost always split, with the idea/thing coming before 'by' and the person coming after 'by'.
to drive a new car or use a new engine carefully and slowly at first to avoid damaging it (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + run + noun/pronoun + in
Wrong: I need to run in my new car before we go on a long trip. Right: I need to run my new car in before we go on a long trip. When using a pronoun or a specific noun phrase with this phrasal verb, it is much more natural to place the object between 'run' and 'in'.
This is a British English term; American English speakers usually say 'break in' or 'break into' for this process.
to quickly read, look at, or explain a list, plan, or document (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + run through + noun/pronoun
Wrong: I need to run through of the guest list. Right: I need to run through the guest list. The phrasal verb 'run through' is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'of'.
Do not use this if you are physically running; it means to review information quickly.
to go to someone (like a parent or boss) for help instead of solving a problem yourself (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + run to + someone (often with 'crying' or 'for help')
Wrong: When she had a problem, she ran to her mother for an advice. Right: When she had a problem, she ran to her mother for advice. The noun 'advice' is uncountable in English and cannot be used with the indefinite article 'an'.
This phrase often has a negative tone, suggesting that the person is behaving like a child or cannot handle things independently.
to reach a particular size, amount, or number, especially a large one (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (book, report, bill) + run to + number/amount
Wrong: The book is run to 300 pages. Right: The book runs to 300 pages. The verb 'run' is active here, so we do not use the passive 'is run to'.
This phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot be used in the passive voice.
to produce and make a new product available to buy very quickly (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + rush + noun/pronoun + out
Wrong: The studio rushed out it to cinemas before it was fully finished. Right: The studio rushed it out to cinemas before it was fully finished. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Because this verb is separable, if you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'rush' and 'out'.
to strongly and urgently demand or need something immediately (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + scream for + noun
Wrong: The dirty kitchen was screaming after a deep clean. Right: The dirty kitchen was screaming for a deep clean. The correct preposition for demanding or needing something is 'for', not 'after'.
This is often used metaphorically for situations that need attention, not just for people literally shouting.
to celebrate the arrival of a new year or a new season (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + see + the New Year / the year + in
Wrong: We went to the square to see in the spring. Right: We went to the square to welcome the spring. While the dictionary definition is 'welcome an occurrence', in modern English 'see in' is almost exclusively used for the New Year, not for seasons or other events.
This phrase is almost exclusively used with 'the New Year' or a specific year (e.g., 'see 2026 in'), and is rarely used for other occurrences.
to defeat an opponent, challenger, or threat, or to successfully deal with them so they leave (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + see + object (person/team/threat) + off
Wrong: We saw off our opponents to the airport. Right: We saw our opponents off in the final match. Using 'see off' to mean 'defeat' does not involve traveling or going to a physical place like an airport.
Do not confuse this with the more common meaning 'to say goodbye to someone at an airport or station'.
to realize the truth about someone or something that is trying to trick or deceive you (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + see through + noun/pronoun
Wrong: He tried to lie to me, but I saw him through. Right: He tried to lie to me, but I saw through him. The phrasal verb 'see through' is inseparable, so the object pronoun must go after the preposition 'through'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'through', even if it is a pronoun like 'him' or 'it'.
to realize the truth about someone or something and not be tricked by them (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + see through + noun/pronoun
Wrong: He was lying but I saw him through. Right: He was lying but I saw through him. The phrasal verb 'see through' is inseparable, so the object pronoun must go after the preposition.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'through', even if it is a pronoun like 'him' or 'it'.
to look for someone or something specifically and with a lot of effort (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + seek + object + out (or: seek + out + object)
Wrong: I lost my keys, so I need to seek them out. Right: I lost my keys, so I need to look for them. 'Seek out' is used for deliberate, purposeful searching (like finding opportunities or specific people), not for finding misplaced everyday objects.
This phrase is slightly more formal and deliberate than 'look for'.
to stop supporting your principles or friends in order to get money, power, or personal advantage (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + sell out + (optional: to + person/organization)
Wrong: He sold out his friends for money. Right: He sold his friends out for money. When 'sell out' has a direct object (the people you betray), it must be separated: 'sell someone out'.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning 'to sell all of something' (e.g., 'the tickets sold out').
to betray a friend, family member, or partner to get an advantage for yourself (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + sell + object (person) + out
Wrong: He sold out me to the police. Right: He sold me out to the police. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'me', 'him', 'them'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not confuse this with the intransitive 'sell out', which means to sell all of your products or to compromise your artistic values for money.
to ask or order someone to come to you, often in an official or urgent situation (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + send for + person
Wrong: The boss sent for me to his office. Right: The boss sent for me. The phrase 'send for someone' means to summon them to your presence; you do not add 'to [a place]' directly after the object.
Do not use this in casual everyday situations; use 'ask to come' or 'call' instead.
to start an activity or a plan with a specific goal in mind (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + set out + to-infinitive
Wrong: He set out writing a book last year. Right: He set out to write a book last year. The phrasal verb 'set out' in this sense must be followed by a to-infinitive, not a gerund (-ing form).
In this sense, 'set out' is almost always followed by an infinitive ('to do something') and is not separable.
to order or encourage a person or an animal (especially a dog) to attack someone (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + set + person/animal + on + victim
Wrong: He set on his dog on the thief. Right: He set his dog on the thief. The noun representing the attacker (the dog) must be placed directly between 'set' and 'on', not after both words.
This verb is transitive and separable; the object being commanded (the dog or person) must go between 'set' and 'on'.
to explain ideas, facts, or rules clearly and in detail, especially in writing (B2, separable, formal)
Pattern: subject + set + noun/pronoun + out OR subject + set out + noun
Wrong: He set out his plan to me in the pub yesterday. Right: He explained his plan to me in the pub yesterday. 'Set out' is too formal for a casual chat in a pub; 'explain' or 'tell about' fits better.
Do not use this in casual, everyday conversations where simpler verbs like 'explain' or 'write down' are more natural.
to display something in a way that highlights its best qualities or features (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + show + noun/pronoun + off OR show off + noun
Wrong: The lighting showed off very well the diamond. Right: The lighting showed the diamond off beautifully. If the object is a simple noun phrase, it should go before 'off' or directly after 'show off' without inserting adverbs between them.
Do not confuse this with the intransitive 'show off' (to behave boastfully), which has a negative connotation.
to isolate oneself or something from the outside world or others (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + shut + oneself/noun + off + (from + noun)
Wrong: She was sad, so she shut off from her friends. Right: She was sad, so she shut herself off from her friends. Without 'herself', the verb 'shut off' in this sense is missing the necessary reflexive object to show who is being isolated.
When used transitively for people, it almost always requires a reflexive pronoun like 'myself', 'himself', or 'themselves'.
to close and lock all the doors and windows of a building, especially for a long time (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + shut + noun/pronoun + up
Wrong: We shut up the house because we wanted to go to sleep. Right: We locked up the house because we wanted to go to sleep. 'Shut up' implies closing a building securely for a long period of time (like a holiday), not just locking it for the night.
Do not confuse this with the highly informal and rude 'shut up!' which means 'stop talking'.
to be gradually understood or fully realized, especially when it is surprising or important news (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (news, fact, reality) + sink in
Wrong: I couldn't sink in the fact that she was leaving. Right: The fact that she was leaving didn't sink in. The phrase 'sink in' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object. The fact itself must be the subject.
This phrasal verb is intransitive; the news or reality itself is always the subject that 'sinks in'.
to meet formally with someone to discuss a problem, negotiate, or reach an agreement (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + sit down + (with + someone) + (to do something)
Wrong: The managers sat down themselves to discuss the new budget. Right: The managers sat down to discuss the new budget. The phrasal verb 'sit down' is intransitive in this sense and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'themselves'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning of negotiating with the physical action of sitting on a chair.
to stay still so that an artist can paint, draw, or sculpt a portrait of you (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + sit for + artist/photographer
Wrong: She sat for her grandmother to paint her. Right: She sat for her grandmother, who painted her portrait. We sit 'for' the artist, not 'for the artist to do something'. The artist is the direct object of the preposition.
Do not confuse this with 'babysit' (often shortened to 'sit') or 'sit for an exam' (British English for taking a test).
to attend a meeting, class, or presentation as an observer without actively participating (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + sit in on + noun (meeting/class/session)
Wrong: I would like to sit in the lecture to see if I like it. Right: I would like to sit in on the lecture to see if I like it. Without the preposition 'on', 'sit in' just means physically sitting inside a room, rather than attending an event as an observer.
Always use the preposition 'on' before the noun representing the event you are attending.
to delay dealing with something, or to keep information or a document secret instead of sharing it (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + sit on + noun/pronoun
Wrong: The manager had the important document but he sat it on for weeks. Right: The manager had the important document but he sat on it for weeks. The phrasal verb 'sit on' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'it' must go after the preposition 'on'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'on', even if it is a pronoun like 'it'.
to delay taking action on something, or to keep information or a decision secret instead of sharing it (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + sit on + noun / pronoun
Wrong: The manager liked my proposal but he sat it on for weeks. Right: The manager liked my proposal but he sat on it for weeks. The phrasal verb 'sit on' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'it' must go after the preposition.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after 'on', even if it is a pronoun like 'it'.
to suddenly start paying attention because you are surprised or interested in something (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + sit up (+ and take notice)
Wrong: The loud noise made me sit up my ears. Right: The loud noise made me sit up. The phrasal verb 'sit up' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object like 'my ears' (you might be thinking of the idiom 'to prick up one's ears').
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of sitting up straight in a chair or in bed.
to spend time thinking deeply about an idea, feeling, or decision instead of reacting immediately (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + sit with + noun / pronoun
Wrong: I need to sit with the problem until I solve it. Right: I need to sit with the problem for a while. 'Sit with' means to tolerate and reflect on a feeling or situation, not to actively work on solving a problem.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal action of sitting next to someone.
to allow yourself to feel and experience a difficult emotion instead of trying to avoid it (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + sit with + noun (usually an emotion like anger, grief, or sadness)
Wrong: When I feel angry, I try to sit with it out. Right: When I feel angry, I try to sit with it. This phrasal verb is inseparable; you cannot put the pronoun 'it' or any other object between 'sit' and 'with', nor add 'out'.
Do not confuse this with the physical meaning of sitting next to someone (e.g., 'Can I sit with you?').
to become calmer, less stressed, and less rushed in your life or daily activities (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + slow down
Wrong: I have too much stress, I need to slow down my life. Right: I have too much stress, I need to slow down. In this figurative sense, 'slow down' is intransitive and does not take 'my life' or other direct objects.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning of relaxing your lifestyle with the physical action of reducing speed in a vehicle.
to leave a place quietly and secretly so that no one notices you (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + sneak out + (of + noun)
Wrong: He sneaked out the room when the teacher wasn't looking. Right: He sneaked out of the room when the teacher wasn't looking. If you mention the place you are leaving, you must use the preposition 'of' after 'sneak out'.
This phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot be separated; you cannot 'sneak someone out' in this specific sense of leaving quietly yourself.
to surprise someone by having a strong effect on them gradually and without them noticing at first (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (usually tiredness, an emotion, or a drink) + sneak up on + object
Wrong: The tiredness sneaked up me while I was driving. Right: The tiredness sneaked up on me while I was driving. You must use the preposition 'on' before the person who is affected by the feeling.
In this sense, the phrase is almost always used with the preposition 'on' followed by the person affected.
to move quietly and closely towards a person or animal without them seeing or hearing you (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + sneak up + (on + person/animal)
Wrong: He sneaked up me while I was cooking. Right: He sneaked up on me while I was cooking. You must use the preposition 'on' before the object.
Always use the preposition 'on' if you mention the person or animal you are approaching.
to make you feel slightly sick or ill after you eat or drink it (B2, not separable)
Pattern: food/drink + disagrees with + person
Wrong: I was disagreed with the milk I drank this morning. Right: The milk I drank this morning disagreed with me. The food must be the subject of the sentence, and the verb is not used in the passive voice.
This phrasal verb is almost always used in the active voice with the food/drink as the subject, and it is inseparable.
to begin and seem likely to continue, especially something unpleasant like bad weather, winter, or a feeling (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (usually an unpleasant state or weather) + set in
Wrong: The cold weather set in the city early this year. Right: The cold weather set in early this year. The verb 'set in' cannot take an object. You cannot 'set in a place'.
This phrasal verb is intransitive, meaning it never takes a direct object.
to show a quality or truth clearly without needing any extra explanation (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + speak(s) for + itself/themselves
Wrong: His success speaks for him. Right: His success speaks for itself. To express that an intrinsic quality is obvious, you must use the reflexive pronoun 'itself' or 'themselves', not a personal pronoun.
In this sense, the phrase is almost always used with 'itself' or 'themselves' as the object.
to organize or arrange things into order, groups, or categories (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + sort + noun/pronoun + out
Wrong: I need to sort out them today. Right: I need to sort them out today. When the object is a pronoun (like 'them' or 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'sort' and 'out'.
to think about a problem or situation clearly until you understand it or find a solution (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + sort + noun/pronoun + out (or: sort + out + noun)
Wrong: I need to sort out my head. Right: I need to sort my head out. / I need to get my head straight. While 'sort out my thoughts' is common, 'sort out my head' sounds unnatural when the object is not split, and 'get my head straight' is often preferred for overall mental clarity.
Do not confuse this mental sense with the physical sense of organizing objects (like sorting out clothes).
to find a solution to a problem, misunderstanding, or difficult situation (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + sort + noun/pronoun + out
Wrong: There is a problem with the computer, but the IT guy will sort out it. Right: There is a problem with the computer, but the IT guy will sort it out. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'it'), it must always be placed between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'sort' and 'out'.
to address, discuss, or provide evidence about a specific topic, issue, or point (B2, not separable, formal)
Pattern: subject (person, document, or data) + speak to + noun/noun phrase
Wrong: Can you speak to your plans for the weekend? Right: Can you tell me about your plans for the weekend? The phrase 'speak to' in this sense is too formal for casual personal plans; it should be reserved for professional or official topics.
Do not use this in casual, everyday conversations where simpler verbs like 'talk about' or 'deal with' are more natural.
to support a person, a decision, or a product, especially when others are criticizing them (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + stand behind + noun/pronoun
Wrong: I stand behind of my decision because it was the right thing to do. Right: I stand behind my decision because it was the right thing to do. The phrasal verb 'stand behind' is transitive and takes a direct object; do not add the preposition 'of'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal physical action of standing behind someone in a queue.
to push or extend outward from a flat surface so that it is easily seen or felt (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (physical object/feature) + stand out + (from + noun)
Wrong: The nail was standing out of the wall and tore my shirt. Right: The nail was standing out from the wall and tore my shirt. To describe protrusion from a surface, we use the preposition 'from' rather than 'of'.
Do not confuse this physical meaning with the much more common figurative meaning 'to be much better or more noticeable than others'.
to watch someone very closely, often making them feel nervous or pressured while they work (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + stand over + person
Wrong: I don't like when my boss stands me over while I work. Right: I don't like when my boss stands over me while I work. The phrasal verb 'stand over' is inseparable, so the pronoun 'me' cannot go between 'stand' and 'over'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after the preposition 'over'.
to be in a position where you are highly likely to gain or lose something (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + stand to + infinitive verb
Wrong: If the deal goes through, we stand to a lot of money. Right: If the deal goes through, we stand to gain a lot of money. The phrase 'stand to' must be followed by a verb (like 'gain' or 'lose'), not directly by a noun phrase.
This phrase is almost always followed by an infinitive verb (like 'gain', 'lose', 'benefit', or 'win'), not a noun.
to remain in good condition after being used a lot, or after hard treatment or bad weather (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (material/object) + stand up to + noun (harsh condition/wear)
Wrong: The new phone can stand up the water very well. Right: The new phone can stand up to water very well. The phrasal verb must always include the preposition 'to' before the object.
Do not confuse this with the meaning 'to defend yourself against a person'; in this sense, the object is always an inanimate thing like wear, scrutiny, or weather.
To begin talking, complaining, or lecturing about a topic that you often complain about. (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + start on + (about) + noun/pronoun
Wrong: Please don't start on me with your problems. Right: Please don't start on about your problems. To 'start on someone' means to attack or argue with them, whereas 'start on about something' is used for complaining about a topic.
This is highly informal and usually implies the speaker finds the complaining repetitive or annoying.
to begin to criticize, argue with, or complain to someone (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + start on + person
Wrong: Please don't start on me with your mistakes. Right: Please don't start on me about your mistakes. We use 'start on someone ABOUT something' to specify the topic of criticism, not 'with'.
This is highly informal and usually implies the criticism is annoying, unfair, or sudden; do not use it in professional or formal writing.
to make someone begin laughing, crying, or talking about a topic they are obsessed with (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + start + person + off + (on something / doing something)
Wrong: Don't start off him about his ex-wife. Right: Don't start him off about his ex-wife. The pronoun object must go between 'start' and 'off' because this phrasal verb is separable.
This phrasal verb is almost always used with a direct object (the person) between 'start' and 'off'.
to temporarily stop being involved in a situation to think about it objectively (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + step back (+ from + noun/doing something) + to + infinitive
Wrong: I need to step back myself from this problem for a few days. Right: I need to step back from this problem for a few days. The phrasal verb 'step back' is intransitive and cannot take a reflexive pronoun like 'myself'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical movement of taking a step backwards.
to stop being emotionally involved in a situation so you can think about it calmly and objectively (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + step back + (from + noun/gerund)
Wrong: I need to step myself back from this stressful project. Right: I need to step back from this stressful project. The phrasal verb 'step back' is intransitive and cannot be used with a reflexive pronoun like 'myself'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of moving your feet backward.
to leave an important job or position, especially so that someone else can do it (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + step down (+ as + role) (+ from + organization)
Wrong: The director stepped down his position yesterday. Right: The director stepped down from his position yesterday. The phrasal verb 'step down' is intransitive; you cannot step down a position, you must step down 'from' it.
If you want to mention the job they are leaving, use the preposition 'as' (e.g., step down as CEO).
to offer to help or give information, especially when no one else has done so (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + step forward (often followed by 'to help' or 'as a volunteer')
Wrong: He stepped forward her to help with the heavy bags. Right: He stepped forward to help her with the heavy bags. The phrasal verb 'step forward' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object immediately after it.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal physical action of taking a step forward with your feet.
to admit that you did something wrong or committed a crime (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + step forward
Wrong: The thief stepped forward to the police yesterday. Right: The thief stepped forward yesterday. We do not use 'to' with a person after 'step forward' in this sense; if we want to mention the police, we say 'turned himself in to the police' or 'stepped forward to confess to the police'.
Do not confuse this with the physical action of walking one step ahead, or the figurative meaning of making progress.
to easily or quickly start doing a new job, role, or responsibility (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + step into + noun/role
Wrong: She stepped the new role into very quickly. Right: She stepped into the new role very quickly. The phrasal verb 'step into' is inseparable, so the object must go after 'into'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after the preposition 'into'.
to take action or responsibility, especially when a difficult situation requires it (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + step up (+ to do something)
Wrong: Our team leader was sick, so I stepped up him. Right: Our team leader was sick, so I stepped up. In this sense, 'step up' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object. You cannot 'step up someone'.
In this sense, the verb is intransitive and cannot be separated. If you want to mention the task, use 'step up to the plate' or 'step up to' something.
to rob someone or a place (like a bank) using a gun (B2, separable, slang)
Pattern: subject + stick + object (person/place) + up
Wrong: The thief stuck up my wallet from my pocket. Right: The thief stole my wallet. You 'stick up' a person or a place (like a bank), not the object that you steal.
Do not use this in formal contexts, police reports, or academic writing; use 'rob' or 'hold up' instead.
to become very worried, nervous, or anxious about something (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + stress out (+ about + noun/gerund)
Wrong: She is stressing out her final exams next week. Right: She is stressing out about her final exams next week. To connect the verb with the cause of the stress, you must use the preposition 'about'.
In this intransitive sense, do not put an object after the verb; use 'stress out about something' instead.
to make someone feel very worried, nervous, or anxious (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + stress + object (noun/pronoun) + out
Wrong: The loud noise stresses out me. Right: The loud noise stresses me out. When the object is a pronoun (like me, you, him, her, us, them), it must go between 'stress' and 'out'.
This phrase is informal; in formal writing or professional reports, use 'cause stress to' or 'make anxious' instead.
to stop paying attention or listening because you are bored or tired (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + switch off
Wrong: When she started talking about politics, I switched off her. Right: When she started talking about politics, I switched off. In this sense, 'switch off' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal action of turning off an electrical device.
to suddenly show a particular emotion, expression, or charm, often in an insincere or artificial way (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + switch + on + noun (like charm, smile, tears)
Wrong: She switched on her sadness to make them feel sorry for her. Right: She switched on the tears to make them feel sorry for her. We typically 'switch on' specific, visible outward expressions or behaviors like 'charm', 'smiles', or 'tears', rather than internal emotional states like 'sadness'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the literal 'switch on' used for lights or electronic devices.
to treat someone unfairly for your own benefit, often because they are kind, weak, or trusting (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + take advantage of + person
Wrong: He took advantage from his colleague to get the promotion. Right: He took advantage of his colleague to get the promotion. The correct preposition in this phrase is always 'of', never 'from'.
This phrase is inseparable; the object must always come after 'of' (e.g., 'take advantage of him', never 'take advantage him of').
to look at, listen to, or experience something for pleasure. (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + take in + noun/pronoun
Wrong: We went to the gallery to take it in the art. Right: We went to the gallery to take in the art. The pronoun 'it' should not be inserted between 'take' and 'in' when you are specifying the noun ('the art') right after.
When used in this sense, the object is usually placed after the particle 'in', rather than splitting the verb.
to begin to have a particular quality, appearance, or character (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + take on + noun (quality/appearance)
Wrong: The room took a new look on after we painted it. Right: The room took on a new look after we painted it. When 'take on' means to acquire a quality, it is inseparable. The noun phrase must come after 'on'.
In this specific sense of acquiring a quality, the phrasal verb is inseparable; you cannot put the object between 'take' and 'on'.
to begin to have a particular quality, appearance, or character (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + take on + noun (meaning, look, significance, etc.)
Wrong: The old house took a spooky look on in the dark. Right: The old house took on a spooky look in the dark. When 'take on' means to acquire a quality, it is inseparable, so the object must come after 'on'.
In this sense, the verb is inseparable; you cannot put the object between 'take' and 'on'.
to employ someone or give them a job (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + take + person + on
Wrong: We decided to take on her because she was the best candidate. Right: We decided to take her on because she was the best candidate. When the object is a pronoun (her), it must be placed between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun like 'him', 'her', or 'them', it must go between 'take' and 'on'.
to wrongly believe that someone or something is a different person or thing (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + take + object (person/thing) + for + noun/adjective
This phrasal verb is almost always used with 'for' and requires both an object after 'take' and a noun/adjective after 'for'.
To destroy, kill, or stop someone or something from being able to fight or function. (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + take + object (person/thing) + out
Wrong: The defender took out him before he could score a goal. Right: The defender took him out before he could score a goal. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'him', 'her', 'it', 'them'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not use this in polite or formal contexts, as it sounds aggressive and is often associated with violence or military action.
to quickly or easily learn how to do something, or start doing it as a habit (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + take to + noun / gerund (-ing)
Wrong: He took to very quickly the new software. Right: He took to the new software very quickly. The preposition 'to' must be followed immediately by its object; you cannot place an adverbial phrase between them.
This verb is inseparable; you cannot put the object between 'take' and 'to'. It is also often used with 'like a duck to water'.
to start doing something as a regular habit or activity (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + take to + noun / -ing verb
Wrong: Lately she has taken to go for a run every evening. Right: Lately she has taken to going for a run every evening. The preposition 'to' must be followed by the -ing form of the verb, not the infinitive.
Always use a noun or a gerund (verb ending in -ing) after 'take to', not an infinitive.
to absorb or soak up a liquid or gas (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject (sponge/plant/soil) + take up + object (water/liquid)
Wrong: The sponge took up the spilled milk very fast. Right: The sponge soaked up the spilled milk very fast. While grammatically correct, 'take up' is more commonly used in scientific contexts (like plants absorbing nutrients). For everyday spills, 'soak up' or 'mop up' is much more natural.
Do not confuse this with the much more common meaning of 'starting a new hobby'.
to speak to someone without listening to them or caring about what they think (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + talk + at + someone
Wrong: He didn't listen to my opinion, he just talked to me. Right: He didn't listen to my opinion, he just talked at me. 'Talk to' implies a normal communication, whereas 'talk at' correctly expresses that the speaker ignored the listener's input.
Do not confuse this with 'talk to' or 'talk with', which imply a normal, two-way conversation.
to speak while someone else is speaking so that they cannot be heard (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + talk over + object (person)
Do not confuse this with 'talk something over', which is separable and means to discuss a plan or problem.
to criticize someone severely in order to make them lose their confidence or reputation (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + tear + object (person) + down
Wrong: He tried to tear down me in front of the boss. Right: He tried to tear me down in front of the boss. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'me', 'you', 'him'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical sense of destroying a building or structure.
to take a machine or device apart completely in order to examine, repair, or show its parts (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + tear + noun/pronoun + down
Wrong: I need to tear down my computer because it has a virus. Right: I need to format my computer because it has a virus. 'Tear down' refers only to physical disassembly of hardware, not to fixing software issues.
Do not confuse this with the more common meaning of destroying a building; in this sense, the object is always a machine or device.
to officially destroy or cancel an agreement, contract, or plan (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + tear up + noun/pronoun OR subject + tear + noun/pronoun + up
Wrong: They decided to tear up their marriage because they didn't love each other. Right: They decided to end their marriage because they didn't love each other. We tear up official documents, agreements, or plans, but we do not 'tear up' personal relationships like marriages.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of ripping paper into pieces, though the metaphor comes from it.
To consider doing something unusual, shocking, or bad, which you probably should not do. (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + auxiliary + think of + verb-ing / noun
Wrong: Don't even think to go out in this terrible storm. Right: Don't even think of going out in this terrible storm. In this sense, 'think of' must be followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.
This sense is almost always used in the negative ('don't even think of...') or in questions expressing shock ('How could you think of...?').
to add an extra amount or cost when calculating a total (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + throw + noun/pronoun + in
Wrong: When I calculated the price, I threw in it. Right: When I calculated the price, I threw it in. If the object is a pronoun like 'it', it must go between 'throw' and 'in'.
Do not use this in formal financial reports or academic mathematics; use 'include' or 'add' instead.
when a judge officially decides to dismiss a legal case or reject a lawsuit (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject (judge/court) + throw + object (case/lawsuit) + out
Wrong: The judge threw out it because there was no proof. Right: The judge threw it out because there was no proof. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'it' must always go between the verb and the particle.
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'throw' and 'out'.
to make a cloud of dust, dirt, or water rise into the air, usually by moving quickly (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject (car/wind/etc.) + throw up + noun (dust/water/etc.)
Wrong: The car threw up a lot of dusts from the dry road. Right: The car threw up a lot of dust from the dry road. The noun 'dust' is uncountable and cannot be used in the plural form.
Be careful: the most common meaning of 'throw up' is to vomit. Make sure the context clearly involves dust, water, or dirt.
to make someone busy so that they do not have time to do other things (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + tie + someone + up
Wrong: I was tied up in the traffic jam for an hour. Right: I was stuck in the traffic jam for an hour. We use 'tied up' when we are busy with a task or activity, but for physical delays like traffic, we use 'stuck'.
Be careful in physical contexts, as 'tie someone up' can also literally mean to bind someone with rope.
to show or prove that there is a clear connection between two things (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + tie + noun/pronoun + to + noun
Wrong: The report ties the high prices with the lack of materials. Right: The report ties the high prices to the lack of materials. The phrasal verb 'tie to' always takes the preposition 'to', not 'with'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of tying an object to something with a rope.
to finish the final details of something, such as a project, deal, or business agreement (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + tie up + noun/pronoun OR subject + tie + noun/pronoun + up
Wrong: We managed to tie up the project on the last week. Right: We managed to tie up the project last week. We do not use 'on' before time expressions like 'last week', 'next week', or 'yesterday'.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with physically binding someone or something with rope.
to mention or talk about a subject briefly, without going into detail (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + touch on + noun / pronoun / -ing form
Wrong: The report touched the climate change briefly. Right: The report touched on climate change briefly. The phrasal verb requires the preposition 'on'. Without 'on', 'touch' means physical contact.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after the preposition 'on'.
to change or return to a state, condition, or form that you were in before (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + turn back to + noun
Wrong: After the holidays, I turned back to my work. Right: After the holidays, I went back to my work. 'Turn back to' means to revert to a previous state of being, not to physically return to an activity or place.
Do not confuse this with the physical movement of turning around to go back; this sense is about changing state.
to change a bad situation, business, or game into a successful one (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + turn + noun/pronoun + around
Wrong: The new CEO promised to turn around it quickly. Right: The new CEO promised to turn it around quickly. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'it' must go between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', you must put it between 'turn' and 'around'.
to make a failing business, economy, or situation successful again (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + turn + noun/pronoun + around
Wrong: The new manager turned around the failing project very quickly. Right: The new manager turned the failing project around very quickly. While both are grammatically correct, it is much more natural and common to place the noun object between 'turn' and 'around' when talking about improving a situation.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with the physical action of rotating your body or a vehicle to face the opposite direction.
to give control, responsibility, or possession of something to someone else (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + turn + noun/pronoun + over + to + someone
Wrong: He turned over it to the new manager yesterday. Right: He turned it over to the new manager yesterday. When the object is a pronoun like 'it', it must place between the verb and the particle.
If the object is a pronoun (like 'it' or 'them'), it must go between 'turn' and 'over'.
to find something after searching for it or by chance (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + turn + noun/pronoun + up (or: turn + up + noun)
Wrong: The investigation turned up it yesterday. Right: The investigation turned it up yesterday. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'it' must go between the verb and the particle.
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'turn' and 'up'.
to say that you know someone or something is honest, true, reliable, or of good quality (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + vouch for + person/thing
Wrong: I can vouch him, he is a very reliable person. Right: I can vouch for him, he is a very reliable person. The verb 'vouch' must always be followed by the preposition 'for' when it has an object.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must always come after the preposition 'for'.
to survive a serious accident or crash without being badly hurt (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + walk away from + noun (usually a crash, wreck, or accident)
Wrong: He walked away from the car accident without any injury. Right: He walked away from the car accident. The phrase 'walk away from' already implies surviving with little or no injury, so adding 'without any injury' is redundant.
Do not confuse this with the other common meaning of 'walk away from', which means to abandon a difficult situation or relationship.
to get involved in a difficult situation or trap because you were not being careful (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject + walk into + noun/pronoun
Wrong: He walked into their trap because he didn't look under his feet. Right: He walked into their trap because he wasn't paying attention. The phrase is figurative here, so physical actions like looking under your feet do not make sense in this context.
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with physically walking inside a building or room.
to join a college sports team without having an athletic scholarship or being recruited (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + walk on + (optional: to + team)
Wrong: He walked on the football team last semester. Right: He walked on to the football team last semester. Without the preposition 'to', 'walk on the team' sounds like physically walking on top of the players.
This verb is intransitive or used with 'to' (walk on to the team); it cannot take a direct object immediately after 'on'.
to suddenly leave your workplace in order to go on strike (B2, not separable)
Pattern: subject (workers/employees) + walk out
Wrong: The angry workers walked out the factory. Right: The angry workers walked out of the factory. If you want to specify the place that the workers left, you must use the preposition 'of' after 'walk out'.
In this sense, the verb is intransitive and cannot be separated. If you want to mention the place they left, use 'walk out of [somewhere]'.
to treat someone badly or disrespectfully because they are too weak or polite to stop you (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + walk over + person
Wrong: He is so weak that his colleagues walk him over. Right: He is so weak that his colleagues walk over him. The phrasal verb 'walk over' is inseparable, so the object must always come after 'over'.
Although this is a phrasal verb, it is inseparable; you cannot put the object between 'walk' and 'over'.
to get rid of a minor pain, injury, or full feeling after eating by walking around (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + walk + noun/pronoun + off
Wrong: I had a big dinner, so I must walk off it. Right: I had a big dinner, so I must walk it off. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not use this for serious medical emergencies or severe injuries that require a doctor.
to practice or rehearse the steps of a performance or activity slowly and casually (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + walk + (object) + through + (object)
Wrong: We need to walk through the presentation to see if the projector works. Right: We need to run through the presentation to see if the projector works. 'Walk through' focuses on physical movement or step-by-step rehearsal of actions, whereas 'run through' is better for a quick rehearsal of spoken content.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of walking physically through a door or a room.
to carry something from the water onto the shore or beach (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject (water/sea/waves) + wash + object + up (on + noun)
Wrong: The sea washed up a dead fish to the beach. Right: The sea washed a dead fish up on the beach. We use the preposition 'on' or 'onto' to describe where the object lands, not 'to'.
Do not confuse this with the British English meaning of 'wash up', which means to wash dishes.
to completely destroy or remove something so that nothing remains (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + wipe + object + out (or: wipe + out + object)
Wrong: I need to wipe out the kitchen table before we eat. Right: I need to wipe the kitchen table before we eat. 'Wipe out' means to completely destroy or eliminate. For cleaning a surface, use 'wipe' or 'wipe down'.
Do not confuse this with physically cleaning a surface, which is just 'wipe' or 'wipe down'.
to completely erase or delete written information or computer data (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + wipe + noun/pronoun + out
Wrong: Be careful not to wipe out it by mistake. Right: Be careful not to wipe it out by mistake. With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects like 'it' must go between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'wipe' and 'out'.
to completely destroy or kill a large group of people, animals, or things (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + wipe + object + out (or: wipe + out + object)
Wrong: I used a wet cloth to wipe out the kitchen table. Right: I used a wet cloth to wipe down the kitchen table. 'Wipe out' means to destroy completely. To clean a surface, use 'wipe' or 'wipe down'.
Do not confuse this with physically cleaning a surface, which is just 'wipe' or 'wipe down'.
to take turns using a gym machine with someone else during their rest periods (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + work in + (with + someone)
Wrong: Can I work in you on this machine? Right: Can I work in with you on this machine? You must use the preposition 'with' when specifying the person you want to take turns with.
This phrasal verb is intransitive or used with 'with' (work in with someone), and is not separated.
to try to persuade or influence someone to do what you want (B2, not separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + work on + person
Wrong: I am working him on to change his mind. Right: I am working on him to change his mind. The phrasal verb 'work on' is inseparable; the pronoun must come after 'on'.
This phrasal verb is inseparable, meaning the object must always come after the preposition 'on'.
to make someone (or yourself) feel very excited, angry, or worried (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + work + object (person) + up
Wrong: She worked up herself before the interview. Right: She worked herself up before the interview. Reflexive pronouns like 'myself' or 'herself' must always split this phrasal verb.
When the object is a pronoun (like 'him', 'her', 'myself'), it must go between 'work' and 'up'.
to find time in a busy schedule to see someone or do something (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + work + object (person/event) + in
Wrong: My schedule is full, but I will try to work in you. Right: My schedule is full, but I will try to work you in. When the object is a pronoun (like 'you'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
If you use a pronoun (like 'it' or 'him'), it must go between 'work' and 'in'.
to gradually develop or increase a feeling, state, or reaction (like an appetite or courage) (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + work up + noun (or: work + pronoun + up)
Wrong: I need to work up my English skills for the job. Right: I need to work on my English skills for the job. 'Work up' means to gradually build a feeling or appetite. To improve a skill, you must use 'work on'.
It is most commonly used with specific nouns like 'appetite', 'courage', 'enthusiasm', or 'sweat'.
to give a short summary of the main points of a discussion, meeting, or presentation (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + wrap up + (noun / pronoun) OR subject + wrap + (noun / pronoun) + up
Wrong: Let's wrap up of the discussion now. Right: Let's wrap up the discussion now. The phrasal verb 'wrap up' is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'of'.
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of wrapping a gift in paper or putting on warm clothes.
to vote for a person by writing their name on a ballot paper because it is not printed there (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + write + object (person) + in
Wrong: I didn't like the candidates, so I wrote in him. Right: I didn't like the candidates, so I wrote him in. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.
This is a separable phrasal verb; if you use a pronoun like 'him' or 'her', it must go between 'write' and 'in'.
to compress one or more computer files into a single, smaller file (usually a .zip file) (B2, separable)
Pattern: subject + zip + noun/pronoun + up (or: zip up + noun)
Wrong: I will zip up them and send them to you. Right: I will zip them up and send them to you. When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (like 'them' or 'it'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Do not confuse this computer meaning with the physical action of closing a zipper on clothes.
to stop talking or to keep a secret, as if closing your mouth with a zipper (B2, separable, informal)
Pattern: subject + zip up (+ object) OR subject + zip + object + up
Wrong: Please zip up your mouth, the teacher is looking. Right: Please zip it up, the teacher is looking. While grammatically correct, native speakers almost always use the pronoun 'it' (zip it up) rather than the literal word 'mouth' in this idiom.
This is very informal and can sound rude or aggressive if you say it to someone else as a command.
Meanings adapted by MindDory from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). This list is shared under the same licence.