20 English phrasal verbs with non-obvious value
Forming / / December 19, 2019
In English, a lot of phrasal verbs, which are widely used in speech. The difficulty for language learners is that their values are not always obvious.
1. Be back
Transfer: return.
We will be back very soon. - We'll be back very soon.
2. Break up
Transfer: terminate the relationship.
They have broken up. - They broke up.
3. Calm down
Transfer: calm, soothe.
I managed to calm her down. - I managed to calm her down.
4. Come across
Transfer: come across, encounter.
Recently I came across an interesting article. - Recently I came across an interesting article.
5. Come out
Transfer: exit, appear.
It came out that he'd lied to us. - It turned out that he had lied to us.
6. Come up with
Transfer: suggest an idea; reflect on anything.
He came up with a great proposal. - He made a great offer.
7. Count on
Transfer: count on someone.
You can always count on me. - You can always count on me.
8. Fall apart
Transfer: fall apart (both literally and figuratively).
Their marriage is falling apart. - Their marriage falls apart.
9. figure out
Transfer: find, discover.
We have to figure out how it works. - We have to figure out how it works.
10. Get along
Transfer: to get along, to cope.
I can not get along with him. - I can not get along with him.
11. Get over
Transfer: overcome.
She could not get over the difficulties alone. - She could not cope with difficulties alone.
12. Hang out
Transfer: spend time together; rip.
Do you want to hang out this weekend? - Do you want to go somewhere at the weekend?
13. Hold on
Transfer: hold (both literally and figuratively); stay on the line.
Hold on! It's gonna be alright. - Hold on! Everything will be fine.
14. Look for
Transfer: look for.
I'm looking for a job. - I'm looking for a job.
15. Look forward to
Transfer: to look forward to; look forward to.
We look forward to seeing you. - We look forward to our meeting.
16. Pick up
Transfer: lift, pick up.
I'll pick you up at five. - I'll pick five of you.
17. Put off
Transfer: save.
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. - Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
18. Sit down
Transfer: sit down.
He sat down on the sofa. - He sat on the couch.
19. Wake up
Transfer: wake up, wake up.
I often wake up during the night. - I often wake up in the middle of the night.
20. Work out
Transfer: pan, turn out.
Sometimes things do not work out the way you thought they would. - Sometimes something goes wrong, as you'd like.
See also:
- English for tourists: 135 most useful phrases →
- 15 interesting neologisms English →
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