Luke's A Phrasal Verb a Day

TO ASK SOMEONE OUT

to invite someone to go with you to the cinema, to a restaurant, etc. because you want to start a romantic or sexual relationship with them

TO BACK SOMEONE UP

to show someone that you agree with them and that you support them

TO BAIL OUT

To bail someone/something out means to rescue someone/something. 1. To bail out the banks 2. To bail someone out of prison

TO BOUNCE BACK

to feel happy/healthy/successful again after something bad has happened.

TO BRING IT ON

You say this phrase when you're ready to face a challenge.

TO GET CARRIED AWAY

to get so excited or involved in what you are doing that you lose control and go too far

TO CATCH UP

1. To catch up with the others = to get to the same speed as the others 2. To work harder to get to the same level of progress as others. 3. To catch up on something = to get updated on something 4. To get the latest news from your friends "Let's catch up next week.

TO CHIP IN

1. when you contribute a small amount of money to help someone buy a gift for somebody. 2.if two people are having a conversation and you want to say something in their conversation, you want, kind of, make a comment.

TO COUGH UP

1.If you have got a very bad cough and you cough a lot, like khe-khe-khe-khe, and eventually, something comes out, right? 2. to pay some money when you don’t really want to. So, to kind of, reluctantly pay for something

TO CRACK DOWN

when an authority deals with something (like crime) in a stricter way.

TO CRACK UP

1. To become mentally ill. 2. To suddenly start laughing, to burst out laughing.

TO CURL UP

to get yourself in a really comfortable position on the sofa or in bed, with your legs bent and off the floor, so that you are in a curved shape - nice and comfy.

TO DASH OFF

to leave in a hurry (synonyms are 'to shoot off' or to 'rush off')

TO DOZE OFF

to fall asleep for a short time, especially when you're not in bed and you don't intend to.

TO DROP OFF

1. To take someone somewhere by car. 2. To deliver something. 3. To become weaker, smaller or lower in value or level. 4. To doze off. 5. When something is attached and then falls off.

TO DUMB DOWN

to make something simpler easier, or more appealing to a wide audience which reduces it's quality and makes it more stupid.

TO EAT OUT

to eat a meal in a restaurant rather than at home

TO EKE OUT

to make something last as long as possible, eg money, food, supplies

TO EGG SOMEONE ON

to encourage someone to do something that they shouldn't do

TO END UP

to find yourself in a situation or position as the result of doing other things. You don't set out to be in that situation, it just happens as a consequence of other things.

TO EYE UP

to look at someone in a way that shows that you find them sexually attractive

TO FAFF ABOUT

"faff about" or "faff around" = to waste time doing unnecessary or unimportant things in a disorganised manner

TO FALL THROUGH

when a plan, arrangement or deal fails to happen because something goes wrong or it gets cancelled

TO FESS UP

to confess, to own up, to admit that you did something wrong.

TO FIDDLE AROUND/ABOUT

1. to touch something, make small adjustments to something in order to improve it 2. to move your fingers, or touch something with your fingers in a repetitive way because you're bored, nervous or thinking about something else

TO FEEL FOR

to feel sympathy for someone

TO FEEL SOMEONE UP *

to touch someone in a sexual way and they don't want you to do it It's negative (unless, of course, the person wants you to feel them up

TO FLAG UP

to bring something to people's attention, to mention something so that people know it

TO FLICK THROUGH

1. to turn the pages of a book or magazine without really reading anything - just having a quick look at the pages 2. To change channels on the TV, looking through the channels to find something to watch. "I was flicking through the newspaper when I saw a picture of you!

TO GATHER (A)ROUND

if a group of people GATHER AROUND it means they all move so they’re closer to one person. In fact, they stand or sit or around surrounding one person.

TO GEAR UP

get ready for a challenge

TO GET ACROSS

to communicate a message, to make people understand something you're communicating

TO GET ALONG

to like someone and have a friendly relationship with them

TO GET AT

1. to suggest something without actually saying it directly

2. to criticise someone again and again

TO GET AWAY WITH

to get away with something = to do something bad without being punished

TO GET BACK

1. To return, e.g. to go home again 2. To retrieve something 3. To move away because of danger 4. To get revenge on someone

TO GET BACK TO SOMEONE ON SOMETHING

to call, email or speak to someone later because you're too busy to deal with it right now.

TO GET BEHIND

1) to get behind with something = when you don't do work fast enough and it piles up. It also applies to payments. 2) to get behind someone = to support someone

TO GET BY

to have just enough of something to be able to do what you need to do (Get by + on... Money

"It's really hard to get by on a minimum wage ")

TO GET DOWN

1. To make someone feel sad or depressed 2. To write something quickly 3. To swallow food or drink, especially when it's difficult 4. To lower your body, especially your head, in order to avoid something dangerous 5. To dance and 'get funky'

TO GET DOWN TO

to get down to something = to start something seriously, with effort

TO GET IN

1. arrive at home 2. to go inside a place/something 3. to be accepted for a place at university 4. to be elected into a political position 5. to hand something in / to deliver something 6. to ask someone to come to do a job 7. to manage to fit an activity into a busy schedule 8. to buy loads of stuff that you need 9. a plane or train arrives 10. to buy things for other people 11. to start being in a bad mood

TO GET INTO

It's similar to 'get in', but here are some other uses. 1.Sometimes if you want to add an object onto ‘get in’ then you end up saying ‘get into’ 2.when a plane or a train arrives 3.To arrive at a place 4. to be accepted or chosen at school or university 5. to start enjoying something 6. ‘to start discussing something 7. ‘to become involved in a bad situation 8.to get yourself into a mess 9. ‘get into a bad mood 10. to start doing something regularly in a particular way’ 11. to get into the habit of doing something 12. To get into a piece of clothing. 13 What’s got into him?

TO GET IN ON

To get involved in something that other people are doing, because it looks fun or because you could make money.

TO GET IN WITH

To get involved with a person or group of people. 1. (showing disapproval) 2. (Making friends with people in order to persuade and influence them, because it's good for your career)

TO GET OFF

1.to have some holiday 2.to leave the place where you work at the end of the day 3. to send something 4.to avoid being punished severely for doing something 5. to help someone get off(to help someone to avoid being punished) 6. to borrow something or to take something(To get something off someone) 7.to tell someone to stop touching something or to leave someone( get off!) 8. to get somebody off something 9.to help someone go to sleep 10. To help someone get ready to leave a place 11.To stop talking about something because you’ve become interested in talking about something else 12. to have an orgasm or have a very sexual experience 13.to get off on something (sexually) 14. something helps you to have a good time or helps you to have a good time sexually’ 15. to leave a bus, leave a plane, leave a train

To get off my back

to tell someone to stop annoying or criticising you

to get off on the wrong foot

immediately establish a bad relationship with someone, when you first meet them

to tell someone where to get off

to rudely tell someone to go away

TO GET OFF WITH SOMEONE

to French kiss someone, to snog someone, to passionately kiss someone and maybe 'do more', but not full sex

TO GET ON

1. talk about entering a bus or plane or train 2. to express the idea of continuing to do something 3. ‘start doing it’ or ‘continue doing it’ 4. to have a friendly relationship with someone 5. ‘to be chosen’, ‘to be part of a group or a team’ 6. to manage to continue doing something or ‘make progress' 7.to be successful in life or at work 8. ‘to appear on TV or radio 9. to get old/ ‘to become old’ 10. to do something 11.to remind someone to do something especially when you have to do it more than once

get it on

‘to have sex’

They get on like a house on fire

they get on really well. They have a really good relationship.

TO GET ON WITH IT

to give your time to something and make progress with it or, to hurry up

TO GET OUT OF

1. to get pleasure from doing something 2. to avoid having to do something 3. to help someone avoid having to do something 4. to take off some uncomfortable clothes 5. to persuade someone to give you some information, or money

TO GET OVER

1. feel happy or well again (recover) 2. recover from a relationship you had with your ex 3. to overcome a problem, obstacle, barrier or hurdle 4. "get something over with" - finish something so you can start doing something else 5. "I can't get over it" - I'm really surprised and amazed about it 6. "get over here" - come here 7. "Get over it" - just accept it (e.g. when someone is upset because they lost)

TO GET THROUGH

1. Deal with a difficult situation (survive) 2. Help someone deal with a difficult situation 3. To be connected to someone by telephone 4. To finish doing something 5. To go into the next stage of a competition or test 6. To use/finish something faster than expected 7. When a law is passed by parliament 8. To manage to communicate with someone (similar to the telephone example)