WhimsicalLL

lay away + save for the future Why don't you lay away your wedding outfit?
lay down + establish (laws, rules) Lori lays down the law in her class. English only!
lay in on + scold or criticize severely My mom really laid in on me when I got home at 4:00 in the morning last night.
lay into + scold or criticize severely I saw Reto's mom lay into him when he came home late last night.
lay * off + suspend someone from a job (during a slow period) The company was losing money, so they had to lay off 100 workers.
lay * out + arrange Why don't we lay the pieces of the table out before we put it together.
leave * out + not include, omit Why did your parents leave you out of their vacation plans?
let * down disappoint I felt let down when I didn't receive a birthday card from my sister.
let * down lengthen (pants in sewing) My uncle is a tailor, so he can let your pants down.
let * out release I am happy my brother was let out of prison early.
let * out make bigger (in sewing) I need to let out this skirt because I have gained weight.
let up weaken in intensity I told her NO a thousand times, but she won't let up.
lie down rest, recline I need to lie down before we go out tonight.
lie down on + rest, recline (on a couch, bed) I'm going to lie down on the sofa for a while.
lie with + be decided by Whether or not you can go to the party lies with your father.
light * up + illuminate Let's get some candles to light this room up.
light up + to smoke Do you have to light up another cigarette? I thought you were trying to cut down.
live * down + live in a way that a shameful or embarrassing event is forgotten Jose will never live down singing that song at the karaoke bar.
live on + survive from I could live on bread and cheese.
live up to + keep a standard It would be hard to live up to her parent's expectations. They are so demanding.
look after + take care of (a child, a house, a pet) When my sister goes on vacation, I look after her dog.
look back on + to remember nostalgically When I look back on my childhood, I often feel angry.
look down on + see as inferior She's so conceited. She looks down on everybody else.
look for + to seek or search for I'm looking for my keys. Have you seen them?
look forward to + anticipate with pleasure I am looking forward to traveling to New York next year.
look into + investigate The police are looking into the murder.
look on observe as a spectator Everybody just looked on as the two men fought.
look out be careful, pay attention, heed a certain danger Look out, there's a black widow spider on the wall.
look * over + examine, review When I'm camping, I look my shoes over before I put them on.
look * up + search for (in a dictionary) I takes time to look up new vocabulary words.
look * up + locate and visit If you ever travel to California, you should look me up.
look up to + respect, admire someone He looks up to his father.

make * out decipher I can't make out your handwriting. What does this say?
make * out + write a check or other document Who should I make this check out to?
make out succeed He really made out in the stock market last year.
make out progress How is your son making out in his new job?
make out kiss passionately I saw Benno and Isabelle making out in the movie theater last night!
make out with + kiss someone passionately Did you make out with Sally?
make * over do again The teacher made me do my homework over.
make * up + invent ( a story) Don't believe anything she says. She always makes things up.
make * up + complete what was missed Fortunately, my professor let me make up the exam I missed yesterday.
make * up + put on cosmetics I takes me 10 minutes to make my face up.
make up reconcile You two have been friends for so long that I think you should make up.
make up for + compensate for Allen made up for being late by getting me flowers.
mix * up + confuse I sometimes mix the verb tenses up.
mix * up + blend We need to mix up these different kinds of nuts before we put them in a bowl.
mix * up + make lively (a party) Let's mix up this party with a little disco music.

name * after + name a child using another family member's name I was named after my grandfather.
nod off fall asleep The movie was so boring that I nodded off before it was finished.
nose around + sneak around I hate it when my mother noses around my room.

occur to + pop into one's mind, come to one's mind It didn't occur to us that we had left the iron on.
open up share feelings I'm glad that John feels comfortable enough around me to open up.
out to + verb try to She is out to get revenge now that her husband left her for another woman.

pan out be successful, turn out well The trip to Vegas didn't pan out.
pass away die After battling cancer for several years, he finally passed away at the age of 87.
pass * off + try to convince someone that something is real He tried to pass the fake watch off as a real Rolex.
pass * on + transmit Please pass this message on to your co-workers.
pass on + not accept (an invitation to eat or do something) Jennifer passed on the invitation to join us for dinner.
pass on die I am afraid Professor Johnson has passed on.
pass * out + distribute We need to pass out these flyers for the concert tomorrow.
pass out become unconscious He passed out because the room was too hot.
pass * up + not take advantage (of an opportunity) I can't believe she passed up the opportunity to study in Rome.
pay * back + repay If I loan you money, will you pay me back.
pay * off + complete payment on a debt It took me ten years to pay off my credit card debt.
pay * off + to bribe Don't try to pay the police officer off if you get pulled over for speeding.
pick on + to tease, bully She keeps picking on me! Make her stop.
pick * out + choose Diane picked out a lovely dress for the dance.
pick * up + to lift an object with the hands Keep your back straight when you lift the TV up.
pick * up + come and get someone in a car What time are you going to pick me up.
pick * up + learn something without effort It's possible to pick up enough English in two weeks to get by on your trip to Los Angeles.
pick * up + try to initiate a relationship with someone (often in a bar) Some weird guy tried to pick Patricia up at the bar.
pick up grow, increase (inf.) Business is really picking up this quarter.
play * down + make less important (inf.) The President played down his affair with the intern.
play * up highlight something (inf.) She played up her part in the new movie, but it was actually a very small role.
play up to + flatter someone for your personal advantage She has been playing up to the boss because she wants a promotion.
point * out + indicate I'd like to point out that figures in column two might be outdated.
pull down earn He pulls down about $300,000 a year.
pull in park (a vehicle) Mark pulled in too quickly and crashed into the wall.
pull out depart (a vehicle) Our train pulls out at 8:00, so don't be late.
pull through barely survive I didn't think she was going to make it, but she pulled through in the end.
put * across + communicate (an idea or suggestion) clearly so that it is understood I thought Ms. Smith put her ideas across rather clearly in the meeting.
put * away + return to the proper place of storage I told you kids to put your toys away.
put * down + insult, say bad things about She always puts down people who don't share her opinions.
put in + officially submit a request (in the armed forces or public services) He put in for a transfer to the division in Los Angeles.
put * off + postpone Don't put off your work - do it now!
put * on + wear Make sure you put on a sweater before you go outside.
put * on + deceive I didn't believe a thing he said. I think he was putting me on.
put * out + extinguish (a fire) Don't use water to put out a grease fire.
put * out + inconvenience someone I don't want to put you out, but could you pick me up at the airport.
put out + spend (usually used with unreasonably large sums of money) I can't put out that much money each month.
put * up have a guest stay in your house for a short time Can you put me up while I'm in town.
put up with + tolerate Sandy will not put up with smoking in her house.

quiet * down + be quiet, or cause to be quiet The neighbors told us to quiet down last night or they would call the police.

read up on + research a topic for a reason I need to read up on the company before I go on the job interview.
ring * up telephone Jack rung me up last night at 3:00 in the morning.
rule * out + eliminate I wouldn't rule out the possibility of moving to another country if I get a good job offer.
run across + find or meet unexpectedly I ran across some old photos while I was cleaning my house.
run against + compete in an election Gore ran against Bush in the 2000 elections in the U.S.A.
run away leave home permanently before you are a legal adult The child ran away because her parents beat her.
run away from + escape from The child ran away from its parents.
run * down trace Have you run down those phone numbers I asked for last week?
run * down criticize My boss runs everyone down.
run * down hit with a car My dog was run down by a bus.
run down loose power, be very tired You need to wind your watch so it doesn't run down.
run for + campaign for a government position Gore is running for president of the U.S.A.
run into + meet unexpectedly I ran into my English teacher at the movies last night. She's so nice!
run * off + make leave The new government is trying to run the drug traffickers off.
run * off reproduce (photocopies) Would you mind running off 10 copies of this document for me?
run off leave quickly Why did you run off after the party?
run off waste water You shouldn't swim where the sewage runs off into the ocean.
run out of + not have any more of something We ran out of milk this morning, so we need to go to the store.

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

take after + resemble a parent or relative I take after my father. Who do you take after?
take * away + remove, seize or capture The soldiers took the captives away.
take * back + retract something you said I demand that you take back what you said.
take * back + return an item to a store The dress my grandmother bought for me didn't fit, so I took it back and exchanged it for a pair of pants.
take * down + write down what is said Would you mind taking down my messages while I am on vacation?
take * down + remove (from a high place) The city government made the shop take down their bright, neon sign.
take * for consider, view as Do you take me for an idiot?
take * in + learning Are you taking in all of these phrasal verbs?
take * in + deceive a person He was taken in by the con artist.
take * in + make smaller when sewing I lost weight, so I need to take some of my skirts to the tailor to have them taken in.
take * off when a plane or rocket leaves the ground My stomach felt funny when the plane took off.
take * off + remove In many cultures, it is appropriate to take off your shoes when entering a house.
take * off + leave work or school for a period of time I was sick last week, so I took a few days off of work.
take off leave We took off after dinner.
take on + accept (responsibilities, work) She has taken on too much responsibility in this project.
take * over + take control of Who is going to take over the family business when Aretha's father dies?
take over take control of If the President is assassinated, the Vice-president will take over.
take * out + accompany a person on a date (for dinner, the movies) I can't meet you tonight because I am taking Fernanda out to dinner.
take * up + begin a new hobby Have you taken up any new hobbies since you moved here?
take * up + discuss (at a later date) We should take this issue up in the meeting tomorrow.
take * up + shorten a garment when sewing This dress is too long, I am going to take it up.
take up + occupy space This couch takes up too much space in the living room.
talk back respond in an impolite way to an adult Don't talk back!
talk back to + respond in an impolite way to an adult Children should not talk back to their parents.
talk * over + discuss I hope my parents talk their relationship problems over before they get divorced.
tear * down + destroy The county decided to tear down the dilapidated school and build a new one.
tear * up + tear or rip into small pieces I always tear up my personal papers before I throw them out.
tell * off + criticize a person severely, reprimand (inf.) Carolina told me off when she found out I was gossiping about her date with Martin.
tell on + report a crime to the police or bad behavior to a parent Every time I did something wrong when I was a child, my sister would tell on me.
think * over + consider Think over the offer before you sign the contract.
think * through + consider carefully You need to think this through carefully before you make a decision.
think * up + create or invent a false story I need to think up an excuse for not going to her party.
throw * away + discard Don't throw away those bottles; we can recycle them.
throw * out + discard I asked him not to throw out the Sunday newspaper because I wanted to save an article.
throw * out + remove by force from (a room, school, a house, etc.) Mary threw out her roommate because she stopped paying rent.
throw up vomit If you drink too much alcohol, you might throw up.
tie * up + tie securely When we dock, make sure you tie the boat up.
tire * out cause someone to be very tired Speaking English all day tires me out.
touch on + talk about for a short time The presidential candidates touched on the subject of health care during the debates.
touch * up make the final improvements We didn't paint the whole kitchen, we just touched up the cabinets.
try * on + put on to make sure a piece of clothing fits Try on the pants before you buy them.
try * out test Try out this massage chair - it feels great!
turn * away refuse to deal with or give service They turned us away at the border because we didn't have visas.
turn * around change or reverse direction Turn the car around and go back home.
turn * down + refuse an offer; reject an application She turned down the new job in New York, because she didn't want to move.
turn * down + lower the volume or intensity of a TV, radio, or other machine I'm studying! Please turn down the TV.
turn * in submit You need to turn your essays in next week.
turn in go to bed (inf.) It's getting late. I think it is about time to turn in.
turn into + become something different, transform When she kissed the frog, it turned into a handsome prince.
turn * off + stop the function of (a stove, a water faucet, a car, etc.) Don't forget to turn off the iron before you leave the house.
turn on + attack unexpectedly The pit bull suddenly turned on the small child.
turn * on cause to be excited sexually Scientists have discovered that the smell of cinnamon turns many people on.
turn * on + start the function of a TV, a radio, a machine Turn on the TV. The baseball game starts in a few minutes.
turn * out produce The weavers can turn out two or three rugs a month.
turn * out switch off a light Turn out the light before you go to bed.
turn out audience members to a function Over 100,000 people turned out for the concert.
turn out end up being She turned out to be the murderer after all.
turn * over give to authorities (said of evidence or stolen / lost property) They turned the wallet over to the police.
turn * up + increase the volume or intensity of a TV, radio, or other machine Turn up the TV. I can't hear what they're saying.
turn up find unexpectedly My keys turned up in the bedroom.

use * up use all of something I used up all of the soap, so we need to buy some more.

veer away from + stay away from, avoid I veer away from the same old summer blockbuster films.

wait on + serve, service (a table) Each waitress waits on three different tables in the restaurant.
wait up not sleep because you are waiting for something or someone Don't wait up.
wait up for + not sleep because you are waiting for someone or something Let's wait up for Mary to see how her date went.
wake * up + awaken someone The car alarm woke me up at 6:00 in the morning.
wake up awaken Wake up. It's time to get ready for work.
wash up clean oneself Make sure you wash up before dinner.
wash * up + clean If we work together, we can wash the kitchen up in a few minutes.
watch out be careful Watch out - there's a rattlesnake!
watch out for + be careful of Watch out for snakes while you are hiking in the desert.
wear off disappear after a period of time The affects of the medicine will wear off after a few hours.
wear * out use until something is not useable anymore If you wear the same shoes everyday, you'll wear them out.
wear * out cause to be very tired Her three kids wore me out.
wind up + finish (inf.) If he doesn't get his act together, he is going to wind up in jail.
wind * up + tighten the spring of a watch or similar machine He wound up the toy dog and set it on the floor.
wind * up + cause an animal or a child to behave wildly The kids always get wound up when Uncle Henry comes over.
wipe * out + massacre or destroy The tidal wave wiped out the small fishing village.
wipe * out cause to be very tired After surfing all day, I was completely wiped out.
work * out + solve I hope you two can work out your problems.
work out exercise I work out three times a week at the fitness center.
work out be successful I am glad your new catering business is working out.
write * down + record Write down the directions so you don't forget them.
write * out + write down every word or letter He wrote out the lyrics so I could understand what the singer was saying.
write * up + prepare a report He wrote up a business proposal in order to get a loan.

yak on to continue talking in an annoying way ("on" can be repeated for emphasis) He just yakked on and on and on.
yak on about + to continue talking in an annoying way about something ("on" can be repeated for emphasis) She just yakked on and on about her husband's new job.
yammer on to talk in an annoying way or complain ("on" can be repeated for emphasis) They yammered on and on and on.
yammer on about + to talk in an annoying way about something or complain about ("on" can be repeated for emphasis) He just yammered on and on about how horrible the waiter was.

zero in on + discover, pinpoint I think I have zeroed in on what has been causing the problem.
zip around + move quickly from place to place I zipped around town after work today.
zone out stop paying attention He zoned out during class.
zonk out fall asleep Jill was so exhausted after taking the TOEFL test that she zonked out before dinner.
zoom in focus You need a telephoto lens to zoom in.
zoom in on + focus on something, pinpoint She zoomed in on his face while taking the picture.