What does “to get up” mean?

“to get up” means leave your bed after sleeping, or stand up from a seat. Pronounced /ˌɡɛt ˈʌp/. Close synonyms: rise, arise, get out of bed. For example: I have to get up at five tomorrow, so I'm going to bed right now.

What does “to wake up” mean?

“to wake up” means stop sleeping, or make someone stop sleeping. Pronounced /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/. Close synonyms: awaken, rouse, waken. For example: Try not to wake the baby up when you come in; she only fell asleep an hour ago.

What does “to turn in” mean?

“to turn in” means go to bed for the night. Pronounced /ˌtɜrn ˈɪn/. It is informal. Close synonyms: retire, go to bed, hit the sack. For example: It's almost midnight and I'm exhausted, so I think I'll turn in now.

What does “to put on” mean?

“to put on” means dress yourself in a piece of clothing, or apply something to your body. Pronounced /ˌpʊt ˈɑn/. Close synonyms: don, slip into, pull on. For example: Put a coat on before you go outside, because the wind is really cold this morning.

What does “to hurry up” mean?

“to hurry up” means do something more quickly, especially when someone is waiting. Pronounced /ˌhɜri ˈʌp/. It is informal. Close synonyms: rush, hasten, get moving. For example: Hurry up, or we'll miss the bus and have to wait another twenty minutes in the rain.

What does “to head out” mean?

“to head out” means leave a place and start going somewhere. Pronounced /ˌhɛd ˈaʊt/. It is informal. Close synonyms: leave, depart, start out. For example: We should head out around seven if we want to beat the traffic into the city.

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English Phrasal Verbs — Everyday Official

The phrasal verbs English really runs on, defined in English. Everyday verbs with a plain-English meaning, IPA, synonyms and the single-word equivalent with where it belongs. Most cards fall into three patterns: separable (turn the light off, turn it off, never turn off it), inseparable (you run out of milk), or no object at all (the car broke down). Each card says which.

CEFR B1–B2 — Intermediate to Upper Intermediate

At this level you can discuss opinions, travel independently, describe experiences. Vocabulary: ~2,500–4,000 words (cumulative).

Words in this deck

What does “to get up” mean?: “to get up” means leave your bed after sleeping, or stand up from a seat. Pronounced /ˌɡɛt ˈʌp/. Close synonyms: rise, arise, get out of bed. For example: I have to get up at five tomorrow, so I'm going to bed right now.
What does “to wake up” mean?: “to wake up” means stop sleeping, or make someone stop sleeping. Pronounced /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/. Close synonyms: awaken, rouse, waken. For example: Try not to wake the baby up when you come in; she only fell asleep an hour ago.
What does “to turn in” mean?: “to turn in” means go to bed for the night. Pronounced /ˌtɜrn ˈɪn/. It is informal. Close synonyms: retire, go to bed, hit the sack. For example: It's almost midnight and I'm exhausted, so I think I'll turn in now.
What does “to put on” mean?: “to put on” means dress yourself in a piece of clothing, or apply something to your body. Pronounced /ˌpʊt ˈɑn/. Close synonyms: don, slip into, pull on. For example: Put a coat on before you go outside, because the wind is really cold this morning.
What does “to hurry up” mean?: “to hurry up” means do something more quickly, especially when someone is waiting. Pronounced /ˌhɜri ˈʌp/. It is informal. Close synonyms: rush, hasten, get moving. For example: Hurry up, or we'll miss the bus and have to wait another twenty minutes in the rain.
What does “to head out” mean?: “to head out” means leave a place and start going somewhere. Pronounced /ˌhɛd ˈaʊt/. It is informal. Close synonyms: leave, depart, start out. For example: We should head out around seven if we want to beat the traffic into the city.

English · definitions in English 223 words ~23 days at 10 words/day 0 downloads B1 B2

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Word List — click grammar notes to expand

Word	Translation	Example
to get upB1neutral /ˌɡɛt ˈʌp/ leave your bed after sleeping, or stand up from a seat Synonyms: rise, arise, get out of bed	rise from bed	I have to get up at five tomorrow, so I'm going to bed right now.
Rise is the single-word equivalent and sounds literary out loud, so nobody says it at breakfast. Do not confuse it with wake up, which is only opening your eyes: you can wake up at six and get up at seven. With an object it separates: get the kids up, get them up.
to wake upB1neutral /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ stop sleeping, or make someone stop sleeping Synonyms: awaken, rouse, waken	stop sleeping	Try not to wake the baby up when you come in; she only fell asleep an hour ago.
The formal single word is awaken, which almost nobody says out loud. With no object it just happens: I woke up early. With an object it is separable: wake the baby up, or wake her up, never wake up her.
to turn inB2informal /ˌtɜrn ˈɪn/ go to bed for the night Synonyms: retire, go to bed, hit the sack	go to bed	It's almost midnight and I'm exhausted, so I think I'll turn in now.
A hotel notice says retire for the night; turn in is what you say to your family at midnight. Careful with the other sense: turn something in means hand it to a person in authority, and that one separates. The sleeping sense takes no object.
to put onB1neutral /ˌpʊt ˈɑn/ dress yourself in a piece of clothing, or apply something to your body Synonyms: don, slip into, pull on	dress in something	Put a coat on before you go outside, because the wind is really cold this morning.
Separable: put your shoes on, or put them on, never put on them. The formal single word is don, seen only in writing. Put on is the action of one moment; wear is the state that follows, so you put on a coat at eight and wear it all day.
to hurry upB1informal /ˌhɜri ˈʌp/ do something more quickly, especially when someone is waiting Synonyms: rush, hasten, get moving	move faster	Hurry up, or we'll miss the bus and have to wait another twenty minutes in the rain.
As a command it is blunt, so with strangers people say could you hurry that along instead. Usually it stands alone with no object: Hurry up! It can take one, and then it separates: hurry him up, never hurry up him.
to head outB2informal /ˌhɛd ˈaʊt/ leave a place and start going somewhere Synonyms: leave, depart, start out	get going	We should head out around seven if we want to beat the traffic into the city.
Depart is the written equivalent you would see on a timetable, while head out belongs in speech among friends and family. Add a destination with for or to: head out for the coast. No object: you head out, never head someone out.
to go outB1neutral /ˌɡoʊ ˈaʊt/ leave your home to do something enjoyable, such as eat or meet friends Synonyms: socialize, go for a night out	spend an evening out	We hardly ever go out on weeknights anymore, but Friday we usually meet friends downtown.
Add the activity with for or to: go out for dinner, go out to a movie. The same verb also means a light or fire stops burning, so the candle went out has nothing to do with socializing. Neither sense takes an object.
to stay inB1informal /ˌsteɪ ˈɪn/ remain at home instead of going somewhere for the evening Synonyms: stay home, remain indoors	remain at home	Let's just stay in tonight, order something, and watch the rest of that series.
Americans often say stay home with the same meaning; stay in points at the plan more than the place. It is the natural opposite of go out and needs no place after it, because home is understood, and it takes no object.
to get inB1informal /ˌɡɛt ˈɪn/ arrive at home or at the place where you were going Synonyms: arrive, come home, reach home	arrive home	What time did you get in last night? I never heard the front door at all.
Arrive is the neutral single word. What follows decides everything: get in a car is climb inside, get in on something is join it, and get in alone, with no object at all, is arrive home, as in the example.
to get backB1neutral /ˌɡɛt ˈbæk/ return to the place you started from Synonyms: return, come back, arrive home	return, come back	Call me as soon as you get back from the airport, and I'll come help you unpack.
Return is the single-word equivalent and the one a written notice uses. Get something back is a different pattern meaning receive it again, and that one is separable: I got my deposit back. The arriving sense takes no object.
to come overB1informal /ˌkʌm ˈoʊvər/ go to the home of the person you are speaking to Synonyms: visit, drop in, come by	visit someone's home	Why don't you come over after dinner? The kids would love to see you both.
Direction decides the verb: come over is toward the speaker's own place, go over is toward someone else's, so you tell a friend come over and tell your partner let's go over to Ana's. Neither takes an object.
to drop byB2informal /ˌdrɑp ˈbaɪ/ visit a place or person for a short time, often without planning it Synonyms: visit, stop in, swing by	unplanned short visit	My neighbor dropped by this morning with a box of tomatoes from her garden.
A written invitation would say call in or visit. Drop by is for friends and neighbors, not appointments, and carries the idea of briefly and without planning. A place can follow directly, drop by the office, but nothing goes between the two words.
to stop byB2informal /ˌstɑp ˈbaɪ/ go somewhere for a few minutes on your way to somewhere else Synonyms: drop in, swing by, come by	make a quick stop	I'll stop by the pharmacy on my way home and pick up your prescription.
Stop by is a stop on a route you were taking anyway; drop by is turning up at someone's home. A place follows with no preposition, stop by the store, and it never takes a person. Nothing goes between stop and by.
to show upB1informal /ˌʃoʊ ˈʌp/ arrive somewhere, especially late or unexpectedly Synonyms: arrive, appear, turn up	arrive, appear	Half the class showed up twenty minutes late because the subway was stuck again.
It often carries a small judgment about the manner of arriving, which is why he showed up at midnight sounds like a complaint. Arrive is the neutral word a notice would use. No object: people show up, you do not show someone up.
to turn offB1neutral /ˌtɜrn ˈɔf/ stop a machine, light, or supply of water working Synonyms: switch off, shut off, deactivate	switch something off	Please turn the lights off when you leave the room, even for a few minutes.
Shut off is the usual American alternative for water and gas. Do not mix it with turn down, which lowers something without stopping it, or with put out, which is for fires. Separable: turn the light off, or turn it off, never turn off it.
to turn onB1neutral /ˌtɜrn ˈɑn/ make a machine, light, or supply of water start working Synonyms: switch on, start, activate	switch something on	The first thing she does every morning is turn the coffee maker on and open the blinds.
Separable: turn the oven on, or turn it on, never turn on it. Activate is the formal equivalent found in manuals. Turn on someone, with no separation, is a completely different idea — it means suddenly attack them.
to get onB1neutral /ˌɡɛt ˈɑn/ step onto a bus, train, plane, or bicycle Synonyms: board, climb aboard, step onto	board a vehicle	We got on the wrong train and ended up two stops past the station we wanted.
The vehicle decides the particle: you get on a bus, train, plane or boat, but in a car or a taxi. Board is the single word an announcement uses. Nothing goes between get and on: get on the bus, never get the bus on.
to get offB1neutral /ˌɡɛt ˈɔf/ step down from a bus, train, or plane Synonyms: disembark, exit, step off	leave a vehicle	Get off at the third stop and the museum is right across the street from there.
Inseparable: get off the train, never get the train off. It can also stand alone with no object, as in the example. The written equivalent on a sign is disembark or exit. For a car you get out, never get off.
to get out ofB2neutral /ˌɡɛt ˈaʊt əv/ avoid doing something you are supposed to do Synonyms: avoid, escape, dodge	avoid a duty	He always finds some excuse to get out of doing the dishes after a family dinner.
The tone is slightly disapproving, so saying someone got out of it hints that they were not being fair. Avoid is the neutral single word. Inseparable, and what follows is a noun or an -ing form: get out of the meeting, get out of cleaning.
to wait upB2informal /ˌweɪt ˈʌp/ stay awake until someone comes home late Synonyms: stay awake, sit up, keep vigil	stay awake waiting	Don't wait up for me tonight, because the rehearsal probably won't finish until midnight.
It almost always appears in the negative, as advice: don't wait up. The person is added with for, and the verb takes no object of its own. Shouted at someone walking ahead of you it means something else entirely, slow down so I can catch you.
to nod offB2informal /ˌnɑd ˈɔf/ fall asleep for a short time without meaning to Synonyms: fall asleep, drift off, doze	fall asleep briefly	I nodded off on the couch around nine and woke up with the television still on.
The picture inside it is your head dropping forward, so it fits chairs, buses and lectures, not going to bed properly. Fall asleep is the neutral phrase that works in any situation. No object: you nod off, never nod someone off.
to freshen upB2neutral /ˌfrɛʃən ˈʌp/ wash and tidy yourself quickly so you feel clean again Synonyms: wash, clean up, tidy yourself	wash quickly	Let me freshen up after the drive and then we can go straight to the restaurant.
About yourself it is a polite way to avoid naming the bathroom, which is why a guest says let me freshen up. Usually no object in that use, though you can freshen up a room or freshen it up, and that one separates.
to dry offB2neutral /ˌdraɪ ˈɔf/ become dry, or make something dry, after being wet Synonyms: dry, towel off, dry out	get dry again	Dry yourself off before you come inside, or you'll leave puddles all over the floor.
Dry off is about wet skin or a wet surface; dry out is about something soaked through, and a dried-out cake is a bad thing. It works with and without an object, and with one it separates: dry the dog off, or dry him off, never dry off him.
to run out ofB1neutral /ˌrʌn ˈaʊt əv/ use all of something so that none is left Synonyms: exhaust, use up, finish	have none left	We ran out of milk again, so I'm having my coffee black this morning.
Inseparable: you run out of milk, never run milk out of. Without of it takes no object and the supply becomes the subject: the milk ran out. Do not use it for a person leaving; run out of the room is the literal sense of running.
to stock up onB2neutral /ˌstɑk ˈʌp ɑn/ buy a large amount of something to keep for later Synonyms: stockpile, lay in, buy in bulk	buy a large supply	We always stock up on canned food before the winter storms start in November.
It implies buying more than you need right now, which is what separates it from plain buy. You can drop on and leave it objectless: we stocked up before the trip. Inseparable, and the goods follow on: stock up on batteries.
to pick outB1neutral /ˌpɪk ˈaʊt/ choose one thing from among several Synonyms: choose, select, single out	choose, select	She picked out a blue dress in about thirty seconds and we were done shopping.
Select is the word a form or a catalogue would use. It also means recognize someone in a crowd, and there the pronoun still goes in the middle: I picked her out at once. Separable: pick a shirt out, or pick it out, never pick out it.
to put awayB1neutral /ˌpʊt əˈweɪ/ put something back in the place where it is normally kept Synonyms: store, tidy away, stow	store out of sight	Put your toys away before dinner, because I'm tired of stepping on them.
Put away means into its usual spot; throw away means into the trash, which is a very different result. Store is the neutral single word, but it suggests long keeping. Separable: put the dishes away, or put them away, never put away them.
to put backB1neutral /ˌpʊt ˈbæk/ return something to the exact place it came from Synonyms: replace, return, restore	return to its place	If you take a book off that shelf, put it back where you found it.
Replace is the single-word equivalent, but replace also means swap for a new one, which is why put back is safer in speech. Put back means the original spot; put away means wherever it belongs. Separable: put the milk back, or put it back, never put back it.
to throw awayB1neutral /ˌθroʊ əˈweɪ/ get rid of something you no longer want by putting it in the trash Synonyms: discard, dump, toss	get rid of, discard	I threw away three bags of old magazines and the closet finally closes properly.
Used about a chance or an advantage it becomes a criticism — he threw away a perfectly good opportunity. Discard is the formal single word. Separable: throw the box away, or throw it away, never throw away it.
to tidy upB1neutral /ˌtaɪdi ˈʌp/ make a room or a pile of things neat again Synonyms: straighten, neaten, organize	make neat	Give me ten minutes to tidy up the living room before your parents get here.
Tidying up is about order, not dirt; a clean kitchen can still be untidy. Americans often say straighten up instead. It works with or without an object, and with one it separates: tidy the desk up, or tidy it up, never tidy up it.
to sweep upB2neutral /ˌswip ˈʌp/ clean dirt or pieces from the floor using a broom Synonyms: clear away, clean up, brush	clear with a broom	I'll sweep up the broken glass, so don't walk over there in bare feet.
The up adds the sense of finishing the job, since sweep on its own only describes the movement of the broom. It can also stand alone: I'll sweep up later. Separable: sweep the crumbs up, or sweep them up, never sweep up them.
to pick up afterB2informal /ˌpɪk ˈʌp ˌæftər/ tidy the things another person has left lying around Synonyms: tidy after, clean up after	clean someone's mess	I'm tired of picking up after everyone in this house every single evening.
The person goes after the whole phrase and cannot move inside it: pick up after him, never pick him up after. It nearly always carries a complaint, which is why it turns up in the -ing form with tired of or sick of in front.
to pile upB2neutral /ˌpaɪl ˈʌp/ increase in number or amount until there is too much Synonyms: accumulate, mount, collect	grow into a heap	The dishes piled up in the sink while I was away for the weekend.
The noun a pileup means a crash involving several cars, not a heap of dishes. Accumulate is the formal equivalent. Usually no object, with the growing thing as the subject, the mail piled up, though you can pile the boxes up.
to mess upB2informal /ˌmɛs ˈʌp/ do something wrong or badly so that the result is spoiled Synonyms: spoil, ruin, botch	do badly, spoil	I messed up the recipe by adding salt twice, and the soup was completely inedible.
The formal equivalents are spoil and ruin, so a written apology says an error was made rather than we messed up. It also works alone: I messed up, I'm sorry. Separable: mess the order up, or mess it up, never mess up it.
to clear outB2neutral /ˌklɪr ˈaʊt/ empty a space by removing everything stored in it Synonyms: empty, clean out, declutter	empty completely	We spent Saturday clearing out the garage and found my grandfather's old toolbox.
Clearing out empties a space, while tidying up only rearranges what is in it. With no object and a person as subject it is a rude order to leave: clear out! Separable: clear the closet out, or clear it out, never clear out it.
to fix upB2informal /ˌfɪks ˈʌp/ repair and improve a place or object that is in poor condition Synonyms: renovate, repair, refurbish	repair, improve	They bought a cheap house near the river and spent two years fixing it up.
Renovate is the word a real estate listing uses. Fix someone up with another person means arrange a date, so the object decides the meaning entirely. Separable, and with a pronoun it must split: fix it up, never fix up it.
to move inB1neutral /ˌmuv ˈɪn/ begin living in a new home Synonyms: relocate, take up residence	start living somewhere	The couple next door moved in last week and already painted the whole front porch.
Name the person you live with using with: she moved in with her sister. The place itself takes into: they moved into a bigger apartment. Plain move in needs nothing after it, because the new home is understood, and it takes no object.
to move outB1neutral /ˌmuv ˈaʊt/ stop living in a place and take your things with you Synonyms: vacate, leave, clear out	leave a home	He moved out at the end of the month and left half his books behind.
Vacate is the formal word on a lease. Move out of takes the place: move out of the apartment. Both move in and move out are about your home, not about furniture, and neither one takes an object.
to settle inB2neutral /ˌsɛtəl ˈɪn/ become comfortable in a new home, job, or situation Synonyms: adjust, adapt, get comfortable	get comfortable somewhere	It took us about three months to settle in and stop feeling like visitors.
Keep three verbs apart: settle in is getting used to a new place, settle down is starting a calm family life, and settle up is paying what you owe. Adjust is the neutral single word. No object: you settle in, never settle someone in.
to plug inB1neutral /ˌplʌɡ ˈɪn/ connect a machine to an electricity supply Synonyms: connect, hook up	connect to power	The lamp isn't broken; you just forgot to plug it in when you moved the table.
Its opposite is unplug, one word, not plug out, which does not exist in English. Connect is the neutral word in a manual. Separable: plug the charger in, or plug it in, never plug in it.
to lock upB2neutral /ˌlɑk ˈʌp/ lock all the doors and windows of a building before leaving Synonyms: secure, lock, close up	lock all doors	You're the last one out tonight, so please lock up and leave the key in the box.
Used about a person it means put in prison, which is why lock him up sounds so much stronger than lock it up. Often no object at all, as in the example; with one it separates: lock the shop up, or lock it up.
to let inB1neutral /ˌlɛt ˈɪn/ allow a person, animal, air, or water to come inside Synonyms: admit, allow in	allow to enter	Let the cat in before it starts raining, or she'll cry at the window all night.
Separable, and with a pronoun it must separate: let me in, let her in, never let in her. Admit is the formal single word on a sign. Let someone in on a secret is a fixed pattern that always keeps on after it.
to let outB1neutral /ˌlɛt ˈaʊt/ allow a person or animal to leave a place Synonyms: release, free, allow out	allow to leave	I let the dog out at six every morning and he comes back muddy every time.
Separable, and obligatory with a pronoun: let him out, never let out him. Release is the formal equivalent. Let out also describes a sound leaving you — she let out a scream — and there the object stays in the middle.
to stay overB2informal /ˌsteɪ ˈoʊvər/ sleep at someone else's home for the night Synonyms: sleep over, spend the night	spend the night	It's too late to drive back, so why don't you stay over and leave after breakfast?
It implies one night at a friend's or a relative's place, not a paid room, so you do not stay over at a hotel. The children's version is sleep over, and the noun a sleepover is one word. No object: you stay over.
to air outB2neutral /ˌɛr ˈaʊt/ let fresh air into a room or through cloth to remove a smell Synonyms: ventilate, freshen, air	let fresh air in	Open both windows and air the bedroom out while I change the sheets.
Ventilate is the technical single word. British English usually drops the out and says air the room, so the two-word form is the American habit. Separable: air the room out, or air it out, never air out it.
to get togetherB1informal /ˌɡɛt təˈɡɛðər/ meet with other people for a friendly or social reason Synonyms: meet, gather, meet up	meet socially	Let's get together next weekend; it's been almost a year since we all met up.
The noun is a get-together, with a hyphen, meaning a small informal party. Add the other person with with: get together with my cousins. The verb takes no object, so people get together and you do not get someone together.
to hang outB1informal /ˌhæŋ ˈaʊt/ spend time somewhere with no particular plan, usually with friends Synonyms: spend time, relax, socialize	spend time relaxing	We just hung out at her place all afternoon, listening to music and talking.
Casual and young-sounding, so a written invitation says spend the afternoon together instead. The past form is hung out, and hang out the laundry is the literal, unrelated use. No object: you hang out with someone, never hang someone out.
to hit it offB2informal /ˌhɪt ɪt ˈɔf/ like each other as soon as you meet Synonyms: click, get on well, warm to each other	like each other immediately	My brother and my roommate hit it off right away and talked football for hours.
The it is fixed and cannot change: hit it off, never hit them off. Add the other person with with: I hit it off with her mother. It describes the first meeting only, so it cannot be used about a friendship of many years.
to fall outB2informal /ˌfɔl ˈaʊt/ argue with someone and stop being friendly with them Synonyms: quarrel, argue, break with	quarrel, stop being friends	The two brothers fell out over money and haven't spoken in almost six years.
Quarrel is the neutral single word, and the noun is a falling-out: they had a falling-out. You fall out with someone over something, and the verb takes no object of its own. A tooth or a page falling out is unrelated.
to split upB1informal /ˌsplɪt ˈʌp/ end a romantic relationship or marriage Synonyms: separate, part, divorce	end a relationship	They split up last spring, but they still share the apartment until the lease ends.
Separate is the word a lawyer or a form would use. About couples it takes no object and the partner is added with with. With an object it separates and means divide into groups: split the class up into pairs.
to go out withB1informal /ˌɡoʊ ˈaʊt wɪð/ have a romantic relationship with someone over a period of time Synonyms: date, see, be with	date someone	She went out with him for two years before either family knew about it.
Without with it simply means leave the house for the evening, so the with carries the whole meaning. Americans more often say date or see, and go out with sounds slightly younger. Inseparable: you go out with someone, never go someone out.
to ask outB2informal /ˌæsk ˈaʊt/ invite someone to go somewhere with you because you like them romantically Synonyms: invite, ask on a date	invite on a date	It took him three weeks to ask her out, and then she said she was busy.
Separable, and with a pronoun it must separate: ask her out, never ask out her. The romantic meaning is built in, so you cannot ask a colleague out about work. Ask around, by contrast, means question several people.
to settle downB2neutral /ˌsɛtəl ˈdaʊn/ begin living a calm, settled life, usually with a partner and a home Synonyms: put down roots, settle	start a stable life	After years of moving around, they finally settled down in a small town upstate.
It also means become calm after excitement, as in the children finally settled down. Keep it apart from settle in, which is getting used to a new place. No object in the marrying sense: you do not settle someone down.
to grow upB1neutral /ˌɡroʊ ˈʌp/ spend your childhood somewhere and gradually become an adult Synonyms: mature, come of age, be raised	become an adult	I grew up in a house with five brothers, so I learned to eat fast.
As an order to an adult it is an insult, since grow up means stop behaving like a child. Mature is the formal single word, and the verb for the parents' side is bring up. No object: you never grow someone up.
to bring upB1neutral /ˌbrɪŋ ˈʌp/ care for a child until it is an adult and teach it how to behave Synonyms: raise, rear, care for	raise a child	She brought up three children on her own while working two jobs.
Bring up also means mention a subject, as in don't bring that up at dinner, and that sense separates the same way. Americans prefer raise for children. Separable: bring a child up, or bring her up, never bring up her.
to look afterB1neutral /ˌlʊk ˈæftər/ take care of someone or something and keep them safe and well Synonyms: care for, mind, tend	watch over, keep safe	Could you look after my plants while I'm away? They only need water twice a week.
Americans say take care of at least as often, and neither is more formal than the other. Do not confuse it with look for, which is searching, or look into, which is investigating. Nothing goes between look and after.
to look up toB2neutral /ˌlʊk ˈʌp tu/ admire and respect someone, often someone older than you Synonyms: admire, respect, revere	admire, respect	Every kid on that team looks up to her because she never gives up on a play.
Admire is the neutral single word and the one a written tribute would use. Its exact opposite is look down on. Look someone up, without to, means find them and visit them, a different verb. All three words stay together.
to look down onB2neutral /ˌlʊk ˈdaʊn ɑn/ think you are better than someone and treat them with less respect Synonyms: despise, scorn, disdain	feel superior to	He looks down on anyone who didn't go to college, which makes him hard to like.
Inseparable: look down on them, never look them down on. Always disapproving of the person doing it, so it is a criticism, not a description. Despise is the strong single word. The literal meaning, looking from a window, needs a place after it.
to take afterB2neutral /ˌteɪk ˈæftər/ look or behave like an older member of your family Synonyms: resemble, favor, be like	resemble a relative	She takes after her grandmother, both in the shape of her face and the loud laugh.
It works only for family, so you cannot take after a friend or a teacher. Resemble is the single-word equivalent but covers any similarity. No progressive: she takes after him, not she is taking after him. Nothing goes inside it.
to stick up forB2informal /ˌstɪk ˈʌp fɔr/ speak in support of a person who is being criticized or attacked Synonyms: defend, support, back	defend someone	Nobody stuck up for the new kid until his sister showed up at the bus stop.
The whole phrase stays together: stick up for me, never stick me up for. Defend is the neutral word a report would use. Stick up on its own, with an object, means rob at gunpoint, so keep the for.
to stand byB2neutral /ˌstænd ˈbaɪ/ stay loyal to someone who is in trouble Synonyms: support, back, defend	stay loyal to	His family stood by him through the whole mess, even when the neighbors stopped calling.
Trouble has to be in the picture, so nobody stands by a friend who is having an easy year. It never separates: stand by her, never stand her by. With no object it means wait and do nothing, which is nearly the opposite, and standing by a statement means refusing to withdraw it.
to back downB2neutral /ˌbæk ˈdaʊn/ stop demanding something or stop arguing because of pressure Synonyms: yield, concede, retreat	stop arguing, give way	Neither of them would back down, so the argument lasted the entire car ride.
Back down is about a position in an argument; back off is about leaving a person alone. Yield is the formal single word. No object of its own, and what you abandon follows with from or on: back down from the threat.
to talk intoB2informal /ˈtɔk ˌɪntu/ persuade someone to do something they were unwilling to do Synonyms: persuade, convince, coax	persuade to do	My sister talked me into running the race with her, and now my knees hurt.
The person goes in the middle and the action follows in the -ing form: talk me into running, never talk into me. Persuade is the neutral single word. Its opposite is talk out of, built the same way.
to talk out ofB2neutral /ˌtɔk ˈaʊt əv/ persuade someone not to do something they were planning Synonyms: dissuade, discourage, put off	persuade not to	We talked her out of quitting, and a month later she got the promotion anyway.
The person goes in the middle and an -ing form follows: talk him out of buying it, never talk out of him. Dissuade is the formal single word and sounds stiff in speech. The exact opposite is talk into, so keep the two particles straight.
to tell offB2informal /ˌtɛl ˈɔf/ speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong Synonyms: scold, reprimand, chew out	scold angrily	The coach told him off in front of everyone for showing up late again.
Separable, and obligatory with a pronoun: tell him off, never tell off him. Reprimand is the formal single word a written warning uses. It is often passive: I got told off for parking there.
to make fun ofB1neutral /ˌmeɪk ˈfʌn əv/ say things about someone to make other people laugh at them Synonyms: mock, tease, ridicule	laugh at unkindly	Stop making fun of his accent; he speaks three languages and you speak one.
It is nearly always unkind, so gentle joking among friends is tease rather than make fun of. Mock is the single-word equivalent and sounds harsher in writing. The order is fixed: make fun of him, never make him fun of.
to pick onB2informal /ˈpɪk ˌɑn/ treat one person badly or unfairly again and again Synonyms: bully, victimize, torment	treat unfairly, bully	Two older boys kept picking on him at recess until a teacher finally noticed.
The repetition is part of the meaning, so one unkind remark is not picking on someone. Bully is the single word a school would print in a policy, and pick out, by contrast, simply means choose. Inseparable: pick on me, never pick me on.
to put downB2informal /ˌpʊt ˈdaʊn/ say something that makes another person feel unimportant Synonyms: belittle, insult, criticize	insult, belittle	He puts her down in front of their friends and then calls it a joke.
The noun is a put-down, meaning an insulting remark, and belittle is the single-word equivalent in writing. The literal sense, placing an object on a surface, works the same way: in both a pronoun must split the verb, put her down.
to fall forB2informal /ˈfɔl fɔr/ begin to feel romantic love for someone Synonyms: fall in love with, be smitten	start loving someone	She fell for him the summer they both worked at the same beach diner.
With a lie or a trick as the object it means be deceived: he fell for it completely. Same words, two meanings, and only the object tells you which one is meant. Inseparable: fall for her, never fall her for.
to open upB2neutral /ˌoʊpən ˈʌp/ start talking honestly about your private feelings Synonyms: confide, talk freely, unburden	talk about feelings	After an hour he finally opened up about how hard the last year had been.
Confide is the formal equivalent and sounds clinical in speech. In the feelings sense it takes no object: add the listener with to and the topic with about. With an object it separates and means unlock or start a business.
to bottle upB2neutral /ˌbɑtəl ˈʌp/ keep strong feelings hidden instead of showing or discussing them Synonyms: suppress, hold in, repress	hide your feelings	He bottled everything up for months and then lost his temper over a parking space.
It is used almost only about emotions, and often in the passive as an adjective: bottled-up resentment. Suppress is the formal single word, and its opposite here is open up. Separable: bottle your anger up, or bottle it up, never bottle up it.
to patch upB2informal /ˌpætʃ ˈʌp/ end a disagreement and become friendly with someone again Synonyms: reconcile, make peace, mend	repair a relationship	They patched things up over dinner and agreed never to mention the money again.
It hints at a temporary repair rather than a perfect one, since a patch is not a new piece. The usual object is things, a quarrel or a marriage, and reconcile is the formal equivalent. Separable: patch up a quarrel, or patch it up, never patch up it.
to check up onB2informal /ˌtʃɛk ˈʌp ɑn/ find out whether someone is safe, well, or behaving correctly Synonyms: monitor, keep an eye on, verify	make sure someone's fine	I drive over every Sunday to check up on my aunt and refill her medicine box.
The words stay in this order: check up on her, never check her up on. It can sound caring or suspicious depending on who you are checking, so a boss checking up on staff is not a compliment. The noun is a checkup, one word, meaning a medical visit.
to name afterB2neutral /ˈneɪm ˌæftər/ give someone or something the same name as another person Synonyms: call after, name for	give a family name	They named their daughter after her grandmother, who was also born in December.
The thing named goes in the middle: name the baby after him, never name after the baby. Americans also say named for, especially about streets and buildings. It is very often passive: the bridge is named after a local doctor.
to fit inB2neutral /ˌfɪt ˈɪn/ feel accepted by a group because you are similar enough to them Synonyms: belong, blend in, adapt	belong in a group	It took her a whole semester to fit in, and now she runs the drama club.
Belong is the single-word equivalent and the neutral choice in writing. In this sense the group follows with with: fit in with the neighbors. With an object it separates and means find time or space for: fit me in on Thursday.
to leave outB1neutral /ˌliv ˈaʊt/ not include a person or a piece of information Synonyms: omit, exclude, skip	omit, exclude	You left my brother out of the invitation list, and he noticed immediately.
Omit is the formal single word. About people it can hurt, so left out is a common adjective for feeling excluded: the youngest always feels left out. Separable: leave the garlic out, or leave it out, never leave out it.
to let onB2informal /ˌlɛt ˈɑn/ tell other people something you were supposed to keep secret Synonyms: reveal, give away, disclose	reveal a secret	Don't let on that you know about the party; she thinks it's a quiet dinner.
It appears almost always in the negative, as in do not let on and he never let on. Reveal is the neutral single word, and let in on, a different phrase, means share a secret with someone. No object at all; a that clause follows instead.
to own upB2informal /ˌoʊn ˈʌp/ admit that you did something wrong Synonyms: confess, admit, come clean	admit a fault	Nobody owned up to breaking the window, so all three lost their allowance.
Confess is the single-word equivalent and sounds more serious. Note that own here has nothing to do with possessing anything. The fault follows with to and an -ing form, own up to taking it, and the verb takes no object.
to go along withB2neutral /ˌɡoʊ əˈlɔŋ wɪð/ accept a plan or an idea, often without being fully convinced Synonyms: accept, agree to, consent	accept, agree to	I went along with their choice of restaurant because nobody else had a better idea.
Accept is the neutral single word, but go along with adds a hint of not really minding either way. Come along with someone is simply traveling together, which is unrelated. Inseparable: go along with it, never go it along with.
to side withB2neutral /ˈsaɪd wɪð/ support one person or group in a disagreement Synonyms: support, back, take sides with	support in an argument	Their mother always sides with the younger one, which drives my cousin crazy.
It needs a disagreement in the background, so you cannot side with someone when nobody is arguing. Its opposite is side against, which is rarer; people usually just name the other side. Inseparable: side with her, never side her with.
to team upB2neutral /ˌtim ˈʌp/ join another person so that you can do something together Synonyms: join forces, collaborate, pair up	join forces	We teamed up with the neighbors and cleared the whole street of snow by noon.
Collaborate is the formal single word. It suits temporary cooperation for one job, so a couple who marry do not team up, and pair up is the version for exactly two people. No object; the partner follows with with.
to make outB2neutral /ˌmeɪk ˈaʊt/ manage to see, hear, or read something with difficulty Synonyms: discern, distinguish, decipher	barely see or hear	I could just make out her name at the bottom of the letter, but nothing else.
It nearly always follows can, could or barely, because difficulty is part of the meaning. Discern is the formal single word, seen in writing rather than speech. Separable: make the words out, or make them out, never make out them.
to look out forB2informal /ˌlʊk ˈaʊt fɔr/ pay attention so that you notice or protect someone or something Synonyms: watch for, keep an eye out, protect	watch and protect	Look out for a red door on the left; the entrance is easy to miss.
The phrase holds together: look out for her, never look her out for. With a thing it means watch for it; with a person it means protect them. Drop the for and it becomes a shouted warning: look out!
to watch outB1informal /ˌwɑtʃ ˈaʊt/ be careful because there is a danger Synonyms: be careful, beware, take care	be careful	Watch out for the second step; it's loose and everyone trips on it.
Beware is the written warning on a sign; watch out is what a person actually shouts. It is almost always a command, so it has no comfortable past form in speech. No object, and the danger follows with for.
to hear fromB1neutral /ˈhɪr frəm/ receive a letter, message, or call from someone Synonyms: get news from, be contacted by	receive news from	Have you heard from your brother since he started the new job in Denver?
Hear from is being contacted by someone; hear about or hear of is learning news concerning them, so I heard from Ana and I heard about Ana mean very different things. Inseparable: hear from her, never hear her from.
to take toB2neutral /ˈteɪk tu/ begin to like a person or an activity soon after meeting or trying it Synonyms: warm to, like, get on with	start to like	The dog took to her immediately and followed her from room to room.
It usually appears with a word of speed, as in took to her right away, or in the negative: I never took to the place. Take to plus an -ing form means start doing something as a habit. Inseparable: take to him, never take him to.
to grow onB2informal /ˈɡroʊ ˌɑn/ become more likeable to someone gradually, after a poor first impression Synonyms: win over, appeal to gradually	become liked slowly	I hated that song at first, but it's really grown on me over the last month.
Inseparable, with the liked thing as subject and the person after on: the city grew on me, never grew me on. You cannot say I grew on the city with this meaning. It is usually in the perfect, it has grown on me, because slow change is part of the sense.
to butt inB2informal /ˌbʌt ˈɪn/ interrupt a conversation when nobody asked you to speak Synonyms: interrupt, cut in, intrude	interrupt rudely	Sorry to butt in, but your car is blocking the driveway across the street.
It always sounds rude about others and apologetic about yourself, which is why sorry to butt in is so common. Interrupt is the neutral word for any situation. No object; add the conversation with on: butt in on their argument.
to shut upB1informal /ˌʃʌt ˈʌp/ stop talking, or make someone stop talking Synonyms: be quiet, keep quiet, hush	stop talking	He wouldn't shut up about his new phone until somebody changed the subject.
As an order it is very rude; be quiet is the safe version. With an object it separates: shut him up, never shut up him. In the pattern wouldn't shut up about something it is a complaint rather than an insult.
to speak upB1neutral /ˌspik ˈʌp/ talk more loudly so that people can hear you Synonyms: raise your voice, talk louder	talk louder	Could you speak up a little? The people at the back can't hear a word.
It has a second sense, saying what you think when it is difficult: nobody spoke up at the meeting. Speak out is only that braver sense and never means louder. Neither takes an object: you do not speak something up.
to talk backB2informal /ˌtɔk ˈbæk/ answer someone in authority in a rude or disrespectful way Synonyms: answer rudely, mouth off, be disrespectful	answer rudely	She talked back to the coach once and sat out the rest of the game.
It only works upward, from child to parent or student to teacher, so equals arguing are not talking back. Answer back is the British version of the same idea. No object; the person follows with to.
to look forward toB1neutral /ˌlʊk ˈfɔrwərd tu/ feel happy about something good that is going to happen Synonyms: anticipate, await eagerly	await with pleasure	I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone at the wedding next month.
A noun or an -ing form must follow to, never a plain verb: looking forward to seeing you, not to see you. The progressive is normal here, unlike most feeling verbs. Anticipate is the formal single word and loses the pleasure.
to get intoB2informal /ˌɡɛt ˈɪntu/ become interested in an activity and start doing it often Synonyms: take up, become keen on	become interested in	My father got into birdwatching after he retired and now owns four pairs of binoculars.
Get into trouble and get into a car are the same words with literal meanings, so the object shows which sense is meant. A noun or an -ing form follows. Inseparable: get into cooking, never get cooking into.
to heat upB1neutral /ˌhit ˈʌp/ make cold food or a room hot, or become hot Synonyms: warm, reheat, warm through	make food hot	Heat the soup up slowly, because the bottom burns if the pan gets too hot.
Reheat is the single word printed on a package, and heat up is what people actually say about leftovers. It also works with no object: the kitchen heats up fast. With one it separates: heat it up, never heat up it.
to cool offB2neutral /ˌkul ˈɔf/ become cooler, or make your body cooler after heat or effort Synonyms: cool, chill, refresh	become less hot	We sat by the fan for ten minutes to cool off after carrying the boxes upstairs.
Cool down works for temperature too, but only cool off is normal for a person calming after a fight, as in give him an hour to cool off. Usually no object; with one it separates: cool the engine off.
to eat outB1neutral /ˌit ˈaʊt/ have a meal in a restaurant instead of at home Synonyms: dine out, go out to eat	eat at a restaurant	We eat out maybe twice a month, usually at the little Thai place near the station.
Dine out is the formal version and sounds expensive. The opposite is eat in or eat at home. Eat up, by contrast, means finish your food, and that one separates: eat it up. Eat out itself takes no object.
to cut upB1neutral /ˌkʌt ˈʌp/ cut something into several smaller pieces Synonyms: chop, slice, divide	cut into pieces	Cut the carrots up into thin sticks and the children will actually eat them.
Chop is the single word a recipe prefers. Do not mix it with cut out, which means remove or stop, or with cut off, which separates one piece completely. Separable, and a pronoun must split it: cut it up.
to mix upB2neutral /ˌmɪks ˈʌp/ wrongly think one person or thing is another Synonyms: confuse, muddle, mistake	confuse two things	I always mix the twins up, even though one of them is much taller.
The noun is a mix-up, meaning a small confusion, and mixed up about a person means emotionally confused. Confuse is the neutral single word. Separable, and a pronoun must sit in the middle: mix them up, never mix up them.
to fill upB1neutral /ˌfɪl ˈʌp/ make something completely full, especially a fuel tank or a container Synonyms: fill, top off, refuel	fill completely	We should fill the tank up before we leave, because gas is cheaper on this side of town.
Food that fills you up leaves you feeling full, which is where the adjective filling comes from. Without an object it describes the container: the bus filled up quickly. Separable: fill the bottle up, or fill it up, never fill up it.
to fill inB2informal /ˌfɪl ˈɪn/ tell someone the information they missed Synonyms: brief, update, inform	give someone details	Fill me in on what happened at the meeting, because my phone died halfway through.
The person goes in the middle and the news follows with on: fill me in on the details. Brief is the neutral equivalent. Fill in a form is a different sense, and fill in for someone means do their job while they are away.
to do withoutB2neutral /ˌdu wɪˈðaʊt/ manage to live or work without something you would like to have Synonyms: manage without, forgo, spare	manage without something	We had to do without hot water for three days while they fixed the boiler.
It can end the sentence with nothing after it: if there's no sugar, we'll do without. Said about a person or event it means clearly not want it: I could do without the noise. Inseparable: do without a car, never do a car without.
to try onB1neutral /ˌtraɪ ˈɑn/ put on a piece of clothing to see whether it fits or suits you Synonyms: test, fit, sample	see whether it fits	Try these boots on before we buy them, because that brand runs small.
It is for clothes, shoes and glasses only. Try out is for machines and methods, so you try on a coat but try out a bike. Separable: try the jacket on, or try it on, never try on it.
to take inB2neutral /ˌteɪk ˈɪn/ understand and remember information you see or hear Synonyms: absorb, grasp, process	absorb information	There was so much news at once that I couldn't take it all in right away.
Absorb is the single-word equivalent in writing. The same verb also means make clothes narrower and give shelter to someone, so the object decides which sense is heard. A pronoun must sit in the middle: take it in.
to wear outB2neutral /ˌwɛr ˈaʊt/ use something so much that it becomes too old or damaged to use Synonyms: use up, exhaust, ruin	use until unusable	He wore those sneakers out in a single summer of walking to work.
About a person it means exhaust, and worn out is the adjective for both shoes and people. Wearing something down is the slow stage before it wears out, and wear off is different again: it means slowly stop having an effect. Separable: wear the tires out, or wear them out, never wear out them.
to zip upB1neutral /ˌzɪp ˈʌp/ close a coat or bag by pulling its zipper Synonyms: fasten, close, secure	close a zipper	Zip your jacket up; it's ten degrees colder than it looks out there.
The opposite is unzip, one word, not zip down. Fasten is the neutral word used in written instructions, and it covers buttons and zippers alike. Separable: zip the bag up, or zip it up, never zip up it.
to button upB1neutral /ˌbʌtən ˈʌp/ close a shirt or coat by fastening its buttons Synonyms: fasten, close, secure	fasten buttons	Button your coat up properly before you walk the dog in this wind.
The opposite is unbutton, one word. Button up can also mean stop talking, but that use is old-fashioned and rare in American speech today. Separable: button the shirt up, or button it up, never button up it.
to roll upB2neutral /ˌroʊl ˈʌp/ fold or turn cloth or paper over and over into a tube shape Synonyms: fold, coil, curl	fold into a tube	He rolled his sleeves up and started washing the pile of dishes in the sink.
The opposite is unroll, or roll down for sleeves and car windows. Rolling up your sleeves has become an image for getting ready to work hard. Separable: roll the rug up, or roll it up, never roll up it.
to grow out ofB2neutral /ˌɡroʊ ˈaʊt əv/ become too big or too old for clothes or a habit Synonyms: outgrow, get too big for	become too big for	She grew out of those jeans in about four months, so we gave them away.
The single word is outgrow, which is what a catalogue would print. Used about behavior it means stop doing it with age: he grew out of the tantrums. Inseparable: grow out of a jacket, never grow a jacket out of.
to go withB1neutral /ˈɡoʊ wɪð/ look or taste good together with something else Synonyms: match, suit, complement	match, suit	Those shoes don't really go with the dress, but nobody at the party will notice.
Match is the neutral single word. It works for clothes, colors, and food and drink. Go with also means choose an option, as in let's go with the cheaper one. Nothing goes between go and with.
to run downB2neutral /ˌrʌn ˈdaʊn/ lose power or energy gradually until it stops working Synonyms: drain, discharge, weaken	lose its power	My phone battery runs down by noon if I leave the screen this bright.
Run-down with a hyphen is the adjective for a shabby building, while rundown as one word is a summary, and run someone down means hit them with a vehicle or criticize them. Usually no object, with the battery as subject; with one it separates: you ran it down.
to blow outB1neutral /ˌbloʊ ˈaʊt/ make a flame stop burning by blowing air at it Synonyms: extinguish, snuff out, put out	extinguish by blowing	She blew the candles out in one breath and everybody clapped.
It needs breath or wind, so a fire hose puts a fire out but does not blow it out. A blowout is a burst tire or, informally, a big party. Separable, and a pronoun must sit in the middle: blow it out, never blow out it.
to knock overB2neutral /ˌnɑk ˈoʊvər/ hit something by accident so that it falls on its side Synonyms: upset, tip over, spill	push and spill	The cat knocked my glass over and there was water all across the table.
Accident is built into the meaning, so deliberate pushing is push over. About a person hit by a car, Americans usually say hit rather than knock over. Separable: knock the lamp over, or knock it over, never knock over it.
to clog upB2neutral /ˌklɑɡ ˈʌp/ block a pipe or opening so that water or air cannot pass Synonyms: block, obstruct, jam	block with dirt	Hair clogged the shower drain up again and the water took forever to go down.
Americans often drop the up and say the drain is clogged, and clogged is the usual adjective. Block is the neutral single word. It works both ways: the drain clogged up, or hair clogged it up, which separates.
to slow downB1neutral /ˌsloʊ ˈdaʊn/ move or work more slowly, or make something do so Synonyms: decelerate, ease off, slacken	go more slowly	Slow down a little; the turn is easy to miss and the road gets narrow here.
About a person it can mean live more calmly: the doctor told him to slow down. Decelerate is the technical single word nobody says while driving. It works with no object, as in the example, and with one it separates: slow the car down.
to speed upB1neutral /ˌspid ˈʌp/ move or happen faster, or make something faster Synonyms: accelerate, hurry, quicken	go faster	The line sped up as soon as they opened a second register.
Accelerate is the formal word used in writing about cars and economies; speed up is what people say out loud. The past form is sped up. It is used with or without an object, and with one it separates: speed the process up.
to pass outB2informal /ˌpæs ˈaʊt/ become unconscious for a short time Synonyms: faint, black out, collapse	lose consciousness	He passed out in the heat and woke up a minute later on the grass.
Faint is the neutral word a nurse would write, and pass away is the gentle phrase for die. The unconscious sense takes no object; with an object it separates and means distribute: pass the papers out.
to come aroundB2neutral /ˌkʌm əˈraʊnd/ become conscious again after fainting or an operation Synonyms: regain consciousness, revive, wake	regain consciousness	She came around in the ambulance and asked what had happened to her bike.
It also means change your mind at last, as in he came around to our plan, and that sense takes to. Americans write come around where British English often has come round. Neither sense takes an object.
to throw upB1informal /ˌθroʊ ˈʌp/ bring food up from your stomach through your mouth Synonyms: vomit, retch, puke	vomit	The baby threw up twice in the car, so we pulled over at the next exit.
Vomit is the clinical word a doctor writes and throw up is the everyday one. British speakers say be sick, which in America means only be ill. Usually no object, though you can add what came up: he threw up his dinner.
to swell upB2neutral /ˌswɛl ˈʌp/ become larger than normal because of injury or illness Synonyms: puff up, expand, balloon	become larger, puffy	My ankle swelled up so fast that I couldn't get my shoe back on.
The past forms are swelled and swollen, and swollen is the usual adjective: a swollen knee. The noun for the condition is swelling. No object: the ankle swelled up, and you never swell it up.
to fight offB2neutral /ˌfaɪt ˈɔf/ manage to stop an illness or an attacker from defeating you Synonyms: resist, repel, shake off	resist an illness	I've been drinking tea all week trying to fight off this cold before the trip.
It works for illnesses, sleep and attackers alike, and the effort is part of the meaning, so success is never certain. Resist is the neutral single word. Separable: fight the infection off, or fight it off, never fight off it.
to build upB2neutral /ˌbɪld ˈʌp/ make your strength, fitness or confidence grow slowly Synonyms: strengthen, develop, toughen	grow stronger slowly	Start with short walks and build your strength up over a few weeks.
Gradual growth is the point, so a sudden jump is not a buildup, and the noun is buildup, one word, as in a buildup of dust. It works both ways: pressure builds up on its own, or you build your muscles up, which separates.
to cut outB2neutral /ˌkʌt ˈaʊt/ stop eating, drinking, or doing something completely Synonyms: eliminate, quit, drop	stop eating something	He cut sugar out of his diet in January and says he sleeps much better now.
Cut out means all of it, while cut down means less of it, so the particle carries the whole difference. Eliminate is the written equivalent, and cut it out! also means stop that. Separable: cut coffee out, or cut it out, never cut out it.
to give upB1neutral /ˌɡɪv ˈʌp/ stop doing something you have done regularly, especially a bad habit Synonyms: quit, stop, abandon	quit a habit	She gave up smoking two years ago and hasn't touched a cigarette since.
Separable with a noun, and an -ing form follows directly: give up coffee, give it up, give up running. Never give up it. With no object it means stop trying: the puzzle was too hard, so I gave up.
to stick toB2neutral /ˈstɪk tu/ continue doing what you decided and not change to something else Synonyms: keep to, follow, adhere to	keep following	Just stick to the plan and we'll be finished before the shops close.
Stick with a person or method is very close; stick to suits plans, diets and rules best. Adhere to is the formal equivalent and appears in rules and contracts. Inseparable: stick to the diet, never stick the diet to.
to burn outB2neutral /ˌbɜrn ˈaʊt/ become unable to work because you have worked too hard for too long Synonyms: exhaust, wear out, collapse	exhaust yourself completely	He burned out after three years of double shifts and took the whole summer off.
It means total exhaustion from long strain, not ordinary tiredness after one busy day. The noun is burnout, one word, and burned out is the adjective. Usually no object, though burn yourself out is common.
to chill outB2informal /ˌtʃɪl ˈaʊt/ relax completely and stop worrying Synonyms: relax, unwind, take it easy	stop stressing	We just chilled out on the balcony all evening and watched the street below.
Very casual and spoken, so a written invitation would say relax, and Americans often shorten it to just chill. As an order to an upset person it can sound dismissive, so calm down is safer. No object of its own.
to perk upB2informal /ˌpɜrk ˈʌp/ become more cheerful or lively after feeling tired or sad Synonyms: brighten, liven up, revive	suddenly cheer up	She perked up as soon as the food arrived and started telling stories again.
The change is quick and visible, which is why it suits sudden good news; brighten up is the version that also covers a room or the weather. It works both ways: she perked up, or coffee perked her up, which separates.
to take care ofB1neutral /ˌteɪk ˈkɛr əv/ look after someone or deal with something that needs doing Synonyms: handle, mind, manage	see to; deal with	Don't worry about the tickets; I'll take care of that this afternoon.
About people it means look after; about jobs it means deal with. Take care on its own is a goodbye and means nothing like it. The order is fixed: take care of it, never take it care of.
to slim downB2neutral /ˌslɪm ˈdaʊn/ become thinner by eating less or exercising more Synonyms: lose weight, reduce, trim down	lose weight	He slimmed down over the winter by cycling to work in all weather.
Note the doubled m in slimmed. Lose weight is the neutral phrase used in any situation. With an object the verb separates and means make smaller, as in slim the menu down; about a person there is usually no object: she slimmed down.
to soak upB2neutral /ˌsoʊk ˈʌp/ take in liquid, heat, or an atmosphere so that it disappears into something Synonyms: absorb, mop up, take in	absorb liquid	Use this towel to soak the spill up before it reaches the rug.
Used about sun or atmosphere it means enjoy taking it in: we sat there soaking up the last of the afternoon. Absorb is the neutral single word. Separable: soak the water up, or soak it up, never soak up it.
to sort throughB2neutral /ˌsɔrt ˈθru/ look at a lot of things one by one to decide what to keep Synonyms: go through, sift, organize	look through and organize	I spent Sunday sorting through a box of old photos from my grandparents' house.
The object is always a pile or collection. Sort out, which is a different verb, means solve a problem or arrange something properly. Inseparable: sort through the papers, never sort the papers through.
to whip upB2informal /ˌwɪp ˈʌp/ make a meal very quickly with whatever you have Synonyms: rustle up, prepare quickly	make food quickly	She whipped up an omelet in five minutes while the rest of us set the table.
Speed and ease are the whole point, so a dish that takes three hours is not whipped up. Whip up a crowd, a different sense, means excite them. Separable: whip a salad up, or whip it up, never whip up it.
to dust offB2neutral /ˌdʌst ˈɔf/ remove dust from a surface, or start using something kept unused Synonyms: clean, wipe, brush off	clean off dust	I dusted off my old guitar and remembered about four chords.
The figurative sense in the example — bringing back something long unused — is more common in speech than the literal cleaning one. Dust alone can also mean apply powder. Separable: dust the shelf off, or dust it off, never dust off it.
to throw togetherB2informal /ˌθroʊ təˈɡɛðər/ make something quickly without much care or planning Synonyms: assemble quickly, improvise	put together roughly	I threw a salad together from whatever was left in the fridge.
It admits the result is rough, so it works as modesty about your own cooking. In the passive about people it means put in the same place by chance. Separable: throw a meal together, or throw it together, never throw together it.
to dig inB2informal /ˌdɪɡ ˈɪn/ start eating something eagerly Synonyms: start eating, help yourself	start eating	Everything's ready, so sit down and dig in before it gets cold.
It usually appears as an invitation at the table: dig in! British speakers say tuck in. Dig in also means refuse to change your position, as in both sides dug in, and there the idea is stubbornness. No object either way.
to check outB1neutral /ˌtʃɛk ˈaʊt/ pay and leave a hotel at the end of your stay Synonyms: leave, depart, settle up	leave a hotel	We have to check out by eleven, but they'll hold our suitcases until evening.
The noun is checkout, one word, as in checkout is at eleven. Check something out also means look at it or borrow it from a library, and that use separates. The hotel sense takes no object; the deadline follows with by or at.
to pull overB2neutral /ˌpʊl ˈoʊvər/ move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop Synonyms: stop, pull in, park	stop at the roadside	Pull over at the next gas station, because I really need a coffee.
Only vehicles pull over, so a walker stops or steps aside instead. Usually no object, with the driver as subject; police pull a driver over, and there it separates: they pulled him over.
to pull upB2neutral /ˌpʊl ˈʌp/ bring a vehicle to a stop, usually beside something Synonyms: stop, halt, draw up	stop a vehicle	A taxi pulled up outside and the driver started honking immediately.
Pull up is arriving and stopping; pull over is moving aside to stop. About vehicles it takes no object: the car pulled up. With an object it separates and means move a chair closer or open a file: pull it up.
to run overB2neutral /ˌrʌn ˈoʊvər/ drive over a person or animal and injure or kill them Synonyms: hit, run down, flatten	hit with a vehicle	Slow down near the park, because a cat got run over on this corner last month.
Separable: run the squirrel over, or run it over, never run over it. Very often passive, as in the example. Run over also means take longer than planned, as in the meeting ran over, and there it takes no object.
to hold onB1informal /ˌhoʊld ˈɑn/ wait for a short time, especially during a phone call Synonyms: wait, hang on, stay on the line	wait a moment	Hold on a second while I find a pen, and then give me that address again.
On the phone people also just say hold, please, which is the formal version. Hold on to something, with to, means keep gripping it or keep possessing it. Plain hold on takes no object: you never hold someone on.
to get throughB2neutral /ˌɡɛt ˈθru/ succeed in speaking to someone on the phone Synonyms: reach, connect, contact	reach by phone	I tried the clinic all morning and couldn't get through until almost two.
Reach is the neutral single word Americans prefer for phone calls. Get through a book or a hard week means finish or survive it, so the object changes everything. Here the person follows with to and there is no object.
to get back toB2neutral /ˌɡɛt ˈbæk tu/ contact someone again later with an answer Synonyms: reply to, respond to, follow up	reply later	Let me check the calendar and I'll get back to you before the end of the day.
The person follows to and cannot move: get back to you, never get you back to. It promises a later answer, which is why it is the polite way to avoid deciding now. Get back on its own means return to a place.
to put offB1neutral /ˌpʊt ˈɔf/ move something to a later time Synonyms: postpone, delay, reschedule	postpone, delay	We put the party off until June because half the family had the flu.
Postpone is the single word a written notice uses. Do not confuse it with put out, which is for fires, or with put up with, which means tolerate; put someone off means make them lose interest. Separable: put it off, never put off it.
to squeeze inB2informal /ˌskwiz ˈɪn/ manage to find time or space for someone or something Synonyms: fit in, make room for, slot in	find time for	The dentist can squeeze me in on Thursday at eight if I can get there early.
Separable, and with a pronoun it must separate: squeeze me in, never squeeze in me. Difficulty is part of the meaning, so a free afternoon needs no squeezing. Squeeze into a space is the literal, physical version.
to make itB1informal /ˈmeɪk ɪt/ succeed in arriving or attending, especially when it is difficult Synonyms: attend, get there, come	manage to attend	Sorry, I can't make it tonight; I'm still stuck at the garage with the car.
The it is fixed and stands for the event: can you make it, I can't make it. Do not add another object. It also means survive a serious illness, and, with a time, arrive by then: we made it by six.
to back outB2neutral /ˌbæk ˈaʊt/ decide not to do something you had promised to do Synonyms: withdraw, pull out, cancel	withdraw from a plan	Two people backed out the day before, so we had a table for four instead of six.
It carries mild blame, since a promise was already made. Withdraw is the formal single word, and backing out of a driveway is the literal, unrelated sense. No object; what you leave follows with of: back out of the deal.
to stop overB2neutral /ˌstɑp ˈoʊvər/ stay somewhere for a short time in the middle of a long journey Synonyms: break the journey, lay over	break a journey	We stopped over in Chicago for a night and still saw the lake before the flight.
The noun is a stopover, written as one word, and American airlines usually say layover for a short one. Stop by is different: it means make a quick visit. No object; the place follows with in or at.
to head backB2informal /ˌhɛd ˈbæk/ start traveling back to where you came from Synonyms: return, go back, turn back	start returning	It's getting dark, so we should probably head back to the hotel now.
It describes beginning the return, not finishing it, so you head back at six and get back at seven. Add the destination with to. No object: you head back, and you never head someone back.
to carry onB1neutral /ˌkæri ˈɑn/ continue doing something without stopping Synonyms: continue, keep going, proceed	continue	Just carry on with what you were doing; I only need the printer for a minute.
Continue is the neutral single word. Carry-on as a noun is hand luggage, and to carry on about something means complain at length. Usually no object; the activity follows with with or in the -ing form.
to go onB1neutral /ˌɡoʊ ˈɑn/ happen, especially something you do not fully understand Synonyms: happen, occur, take place	happen, take place	What's going on out there? I've heard three sirens in the last ten minutes.
It appears mostly in questions and the progressive: what's going on. The noun goings-on means strange events. Go on also means continue, and as an order it can mean either keep talking or I don't believe you. No object.
to go aheadB2neutral /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ begin or continue with something, especially after permission Synonyms: proceed, start, continue	proceed, start	Go ahead and order; I'll be there in five minutes and I know what I want.
Americans very often use go ahead and plus a verb, as in the example, simply to soften an instruction. The noun is the go-ahead, meaning permission. No object; add the activity with with: go ahead with the plan.
to hold offB2neutral /ˌhoʊld ˈɔf/ wait before doing something you were planning to do Synonyms: wait, delay, postpone	not do it yet	Let's hold off on booking the tickets until we know whether she can come.
Hold off is choosing to wait; put off is moving the whole thing later. About weather it means stay away, as in the rain held off until evening. No object; what you delay follows with on plus an -ing form.
to look aroundB1neutral /ˌlʊk əˈraʊnd/ walk around a place to see what is there Synonyms: explore, tour, browse	explore a place	We had an hour to look around the old town before the bus left again.
It can stand alone, as in we are just looking around, the polite way to tell a salesperson you are not buying yet. Inseparable, and a place can follow directly: look around the museum, never look the museum around.
to wander offB2neutral /ˌwɑndər ˈɔf/ walk away from the place where you should be, without telling anyone Synonyms: stray, drift away, get lost	walk away unnoticed	The little boy wandered off in the market and his father found him by the fountain.
The walking is aimless, so leaving on purpose is not wandering off. Stray is the single-word equivalent, used mostly about animals. It also describes attention drifting from a topic. No object of its own.
to end upB1neutral /ˌɛnd ˈʌp/ be in a particular place or situation at the end, often unexpectedly Synonyms: finish up, wind up, land	finally arrive or become	We meant to go to the beach but ended up sitting in traffic for three hours.
No object, and what follows is an -ing form, an adjective, or a place: ended up walking, ended up sick, ended up in Denver. Never end up to do. The result is usually not what was planned, which is the point of the verb.
to turn backB2neutral /ˌtɜrn ˈbæk/ return the way you came instead of continuing Synonyms: return, retreat, go back	go back the way	The snow got so heavy that we had to turn back halfway up the hill.
It implies giving up on reaching the destination, while turn around is only the change of direction. Usually no object; with one it separates and means refuse entry: they turned us back at the border.
to miss out onB2neutral /ˌmɪs ˈaʊt ɑn/ fail to get or enjoy something good because you were not there Synonyms: lose, forfeit, pass up	lose a chance	If you leave now you'll miss out on the best part of the evening.
The words stay together: miss out on the trip, never miss the trip out on. Without on it stands alone: don't miss out. The thing missed is always something desirable, so you cannot miss out on a traffic jam.
to sign inB1neutral /ˌsaɪn ˈɪn/ write your name in a book or on a screen when you arrive somewhere Synonyms: register, check in, log in	write your name on arrival	Visitors have to sign in at the front desk and wear a badge in the building.
For websites Americans use sign in and log in with no difference, but sign in is the one written on buildings and reception desks. The opposite is sign out. Usually no object; with one it separates: sign your guest in.
to pack upB2neutral /ˌpæk ˈʌp/ put your things into bags or boxes because you are leaving Synonyms: pack, gather, clear away	put things in bags	We packed up the picnic as soon as the first drops of rain started.
Pack up is finishing and leaving; pack is filling a case before a trip, so you pack on Friday and pack up on Sunday. It works with or without an object, and with one it separates: pack the tools up, pack them up.
to bring alongB2informal /ˌbrɪŋ əˈlɔŋ/ take someone or something with you when you go somewhere Synonyms: take, bring, bring with you	bring with you	Bring your sister along if she's free; there's plenty of room in the car.
The along adds nothing to the meaning of bring except warmth, which is why invitations use it. Come along is the version for the person joining. Separable: bring a friend along, or bring her along, never bring along her.
to find outB1neutral /ˌfaɪnd ˈaʊt/ learn a piece of information, often by asking or checking Synonyms: discover, learn, ascertain	discover, learn	I need to find out what time the pharmacy closes before we drive over there.
Separable with a noun, and a question word or clause can follow directly: find out the price, find it out, find out when it opens. Never find out it. Discover suits scientific findings; find out suits facts you asked about.
to try outB2neutral /ˌtraɪ ˈaʊt/ use something for the first time to see whether it works or you like it Synonyms: test, sample, experiment with	test something new	Let's try out that new bakery on the corner before the weekend crowd finds it.
Try out is for machines, methods and places; try on is only for clothes, and try out for a team means compete for a place on it. Test is the neutral single word. Separable: try the app out, or try it out, never try out it.
to pass onB2neutral /ˌpæs ˈɑn/ give something to another person after you have received it Synonyms: relay, forward, transmit	hand along to another	Pass this message on to your mother when she gets home from work.
Pass on also politely means die, so he passed on last winter is about death, not about giving anything away. The receiver follows with to. Separable: pass the book on, or pass it on, never pass on it.
to pass byB1neutral /ˌpæs ˈbaɪ/ go past a place or person without stopping Synonyms: go past, walk past, drive past	go past	I pass by your building every morning, so I could drop the package off.
A place can follow directly: pass by the school. It can also stand alone: two buses passed by. Pass by means not stopping, which is exactly what separates it from stop by, where stopping is the whole point.
to go byB1neutral /ˌɡoʊ ˈbaɪ/ pass, used about periods of time Synonyms: pass, elapse, slip by	pass, of time	Three weeks went by before anyone from the office called her back.
Elapse is the formal single word used in writing. Go by a rule or a name means follow or use it: she goes by her middle name. In the time sense there is no object, with a length of time as the subject: the years went by.
to come upB1neutral /ˌkʌm ˈʌp/ of an unexpected event, happen and get in the way of your plans Synonyms: arise, crop up, happen	arise unexpectedly	Something came up at home, so I have to cancel Saturday after all.
Something came up is the standard polite excuse, which is why the verb is vague on purpose. The event is the subject and there is no object, so you cannot come something up. Arise is the formal equivalent. Come up with, a different verb, means invent, and in a meeting a topic can come up too.
to come alongB2informal /ˌkʌm əˈlɔŋ/ go somewhere with someone who invited you Synonyms: join, accompany, tag along	join someone going somewhere	You're welcome to come along, but we're leaving in about ten minutes.
The host says bring along, the guest says come along. It also means make progress, as in the garden is coming along nicely. No object either way: you never come someone along.
to nail downB2informal /ˌneɪl ˈdaʊn/ agree the exact details of something so it is definite Synonyms: settle, fix, finalize	settle the details	We still need to nail down a date before I can book the train tickets.
It implies the detail has been vague or slippery until now, which is why plans, dates and prices are its usual objects. Finalize is the formal equivalent. Separable: nail the date down, or nail it down, never nail down it.
to go overB1neutral /ˌɡoʊ ˈoʊvər/ examine or discuss something carefully from start to finish Synonyms: review, check, examine	examine, review	Can we go over the directions again? I want to be sure about the second turn.
Go over is careful and run through is quick, and that is the whole difference. Review is the neutral single word. Go over to a place is the literal sense of traveling there. Nothing goes between go and over.
to think overB2neutral /ˌθɪŋk ˈoʊvər/ consider something carefully before deciding Synonyms: consider, weigh, reflect on	consider carefully	Think it over tonight and tell me tomorrow whether you want the room.
Separable, and with a pronoun it must separate: think it over, never think over it. Consider is the neutral single word. Time is implied, so thinking something over takes at least a night, and an instant answer is not it.
to sleep onB2informal /ˈslip ˌɑn/ wait until the next day before deciding something Synonyms: delay deciding, wait overnight	decide tomorrow	It's a big offer, so sleep on it and call them back in the morning.
The object is almost always it and it follows on: sleep on it, never sleep it on. Exactly one night is implied, which is what separates it from think over. The literal meaning, lying on a surface, needs a real object like the couch.
to call in sickB2neutral /ˌkɔl ɪn ˈsɪk/ telephone your workplace or school to say you are too ill to come Synonyms: report sick, phone in sick	phone to report illness	He called in sick on Monday and still sounded terrible on Wednesday morning.
Fixed in this order with no object: you call in sick, never call sick in. The place follows with to if needed. The phone call is part of the meaning, so simply staying home without telling anyone is not calling in sick.
to get in touchB1neutral /ˌɡɛt ɪn ˈtʌtʃ/ contact someone by phone, message, or letter Synonyms: contact, reach out, make contact	make contact	Get in touch when you land and we'll figure out where to meet.
Get in touch is starting contact, while stay in touch is continuing it. Contact is the single-word equivalent and is shorter in writing. The words are fixed in this order, and the person follows with with: get in touch with her.
to cut inB2informal /ˌkʌt ˈɪn/ move a vehicle suddenly into the space in front of another one Synonyms: cut off, swerve in, butt in	move in front suddenly	A motorcycle cut in ahead of us and the driver behind started shouting.
It always sounds like a complaint, since the move is rude or dangerous. Cut in also means interrupt a conversation, the same idea applied to speech. No object; the vehicle affected follows with in front of or on.
to call aroundB2informal /ˌkɔl əˈraʊnd/ telephone several people or businesses to find something out Synonyms: phone around, shop around, inquire	phone several places	I called around all morning and nobody had that part in stock.
Several calls are part of the meaning, so one call is not calling around. Americans write around here; British speakers say ring round for the same activity. No object: you do not call someone around.
to run byB2informal /ˌrʌn ˈbaɪ/ tell someone an idea so that they can give an opinion on it Synonyms: check with, propose to, float	tell to get an opinion	Let me run the plan by my sister before we promise anything to the landlord.
The idea goes in the middle and the person after by: run it by me, never run by me it. Americans also say run something past someone with the same meaning. It asks for a reaction, not permission.
to freak outB2informal /ˌfrik ˈaʊt/ become very frightened, angry, or excited and lose control Synonyms: panic, lose it, overreact	panic, react wildly	My mother freaked out when she saw the spider sitting on the bathroom mirror.
Panic is the neutral single word, and freak out is far too casual for a report. The noun is a freak-out, a loss of control. It works both ways: she freaked out, or the noise freaked her out, which separates.
to blow upB2informal /ˌbloʊ ˈʌp/ suddenly become very angry and shout Synonyms: explode, lose your temper, erupt	lose your temper	He blew up at the waiter over a cold plate of eggs, which was embarrassing.
The anger sense is sudden and loud, not a slow resentment, and the person you shout at follows with at. With an object it separates and means inflate or destroy: blow the balloon up, blow it up.
to snap atB2informal /ˈsnæp ˌæt/ speak to someone in a sudden angry way Synonyms: bark at, retort, lash out	answer sharply	Sorry I snapped at you earlier; I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.
It describes one short sharp remark, not a long argument, so it fits tiredness better than real anger. Snap out of it, a different phrase, means stop being sad and act normally. Inseparable: snap at her, never snap her at.
to lash outB2neutral /ˌlæʃ ˈaʊt/ suddenly attack someone with words or with your hands Synonyms: attack, strike out, rail at	attack suddenly	She lashed out at everyone in the room and then walked out without her coat.
It is stronger and wider than snap at, since it can mean physical violence as well as words. Suddenness is essential, so a planned complaint is never lashing out. No object; the target follows with at.
to get worked upB2informal /ˌɡɛt ˌwɜrkt ˈʌp/ become very upset or excited about something Synonyms: get upset, get agitated, fret	become upset, agitated	Don't get worked up about the exam; you've done the reading twice already.
The feeling builds instead of exploding, which is what separates it from blowing up. Worked up is also an adjective on its own: he was pretty worked up. No object; the cause follows with about or over.
to tear upB2neutral /ˌtɛr ˈʌp/ pull paper or cloth into small pieces with your hands Synonyms: rip, shred, destroy	rip into pieces	She tore the letter up without reading past the first two lines.
Said of a person's eyes it can mean start to cry, but that is a different verb, pronounced /tɪr ˈʌp/ like the noun tear, and its past is regular: her eyes teared up. In the ripping sense the past forms are tore and torn, and it is separable: tear the ticket up, or tear it up, never tear up it.
to root forB2informal /ˈrut fɔr/ support a team or person and hope they succeed Synonyms: support, cheer for, back	support a team	The whole street was rooting for the local team on Sunday afternoon.
You root for a team or a friend facing something hard, and it always expresses goodwill rather than help. It is the American verb where British speakers say support. Inseparable: root for them, never root them for.
to get downB2informal /ˌɡɛt ˈdaʊn/ make someone feel sad or without hope Synonyms: depress, sadden, discourage	make someone sad	All this gray weather really gets me down by the middle of February.
The person goes in the middle: it gets me down, never it gets down me. Depress is the neutral single word. Down on its own is a common adjective for mild sadness: he's been a bit down lately. Get down also means crouch.
to brighten upB2neutral /ˌbraɪtən ˈʌp/ become happier, or make something look more cheerful Synonyms: liven up, lighten, gladden	grow cheerful or sunny	He brightened up as soon as he heard his cousins were coming for the weekend.
Unlike perk up it also covers places and weather: the room brightened up, it brightened up after lunch. About people it takes no object; about a room it takes one and separates: brighten the room up, brighten it up.
to shrug offB2neutral /ˌʃrʌɡ ˈɔf/ deliberately refuse to let criticism or a setback upset you Synonyms: dismiss, make light of, laugh off	refuse to be upset	He shrugged off the bad review and started cooking for the evening service.
The object is a remark or a setback, never a person: brushing a person off is the rude version of the same gesture. It separates, and a pronoun must split it, shrug it off, never shrug off it. Dismiss is the neutral single word. Of a market the verb reports no effect rather than an attitude.
to brush offB2informal /ˌbrʌʃ ˈɔf/ refuse to listen to someone or pay attention to them Synonyms: dismiss, snub, ignore	dismiss a person rudely	I tried to apologize twice and she brushed me off both times.
Separable, and with a pronoun it must separate: brush him off, never brush off him. The noun is a brush-off, as in she gave me the brush-off. About things rather than people it means brush dust away literally.
to burst outB2neutral /ˌbɜrst ˈaʊt/ suddenly begin laughing or crying Synonyms: break into, erupt, explode	suddenly start laughing	The whole table burst out laughing when the dog walked in wearing a hat.
No object; an -ing form follows directly, and only laughing or crying fit: burst out laughing, never burst out to laugh. The alternative pattern is burst into laughter with a noun. The past form is also burst.
to take it out onB2informal /ˌteɪk ɪt ˈaʊt ɑn/ treat someone badly because you are angry about something else Synonyms: vent on, unload on	direct anger wrongly	It's not her fault the train was late, so don't take it out on her.
The it is fixed and means your anger; the innocent person follows on. Say take it out on me, never take out it on me. It always implies the person does not deserve it, which is why the phrase is a criticism.
to feel up toB2informal /ˌfil ˈʌp tu/ feel well enough or strong enough to do something Synonyms: feel able to, be ready for	feel strong enough for	I don't feel up to a long walk today, but I could sit in the garden.
A noun or an -ing form must follow to: feel up to driving, never feel up to drive. It appears mostly in questions and negatives, often about illness or tiredness. Be up to something, without feel, can mean be doing something secret.
to be fed up withB2informal /bi ˌfɛd ˈʌp wɪð/ be annoyed and tired of a situation that has lasted too long Synonyms: be sick of, be tired of	be tired of something	I'm fed up with the noise from upstairs, so I'm calling the landlord tonight.
Always with be or get, and the cause follows with with plus a noun or -ing form. Americans say sick of at least as often as fed up with. It needs a long annoyance behind it, so one bad morning is not enough.
to go wrongB1neutral /ˌɡoʊ ˈrɔŋ/ stop working correctly, or fail in a way you did not expect Synonyms: fail, break, misfire	fail, develop a problem	Everything that could go wrong went wrong on the day of the move.
Go bad is only for food, never for plans. Where did I go wrong is the one pattern with a person, and it asks about a mistake. The plan or the machine is the subject and there is no object, so you cannot go wrong something.
to slip upB2informal /ˌslɪp ˈʌp/ make a small careless mistake Synonyms: blunder, err, make a mistake	make a small mistake	I slipped up and wrote the wrong date on all forty invitations.
The noun is a slip-up, a minor error, and the mistake is small and careless, so a serious failure needs a stronger verb. Slip up on a detail names what went wrong. No object: you never slip something up.
to straighten outB2informal /ˌstreɪtən ˈaʊt/ deal with a confused or difficult situation and put it right Synonyms: resolve, fix, sort out	fix a confused situation	It took three visits to the bank to straighten the account out.
About a person it means help them stop behaving badly, and the object still sits in the middle. Resolve is the formal equivalent. Separable: straighten the mess out, or straighten it out, never straighten out it.
to smooth overB2neutral /ˌsmuð ˈoʊvər/ make a disagreement seem less serious so people stop being angry Synonyms: settle, ease, patch up	calm a disagreement	Their uncle smoothed things over before the argument ruined the whole dinner.
It suggests calming rather than truly solving, so a problem smoothed over can return. Patch up is about the relationship itself. Separable, and things is the most common object: smooth the quarrel over, or smooth it over.
to stick withB2informal /ˈstɪk wɪð/ continue with the same choice, person, or method Synonyms: keep to, continue with, retain	keep, not change	Let's stick with the old recipe, because everyone liked it better last year.
Stick with suits a choice or a person you keep, while stick to suits rules and diets you must not break. Stick someone with a bill means leave them to pay it. Inseparable: stick with him, never stick him with.
to keep onB1informal /ˌkip ˈɑn/ continue doing something, often annoyingly Synonyms: continue, persist, carry on	continue doing	He kept on asking the same question until somebody finally gave him an answer.
It often suggests the action is repeated too much, so keep on asking sounds like a complaint. Keep on at someone means nag them. No object, and an -ing form follows directly: keep on trying, never keep on to try.
to back offB2informal /ˌbæk ˈɔf/ stop pressing someone or move away from a confrontation Synonyms: retreat, withdraw, ease off	stop pressuring someone	Back off and give her a few days before you bring the subject up again.
As an order it is forceful, close to leave me alone. Back off is leaving a person alone, while back down is abandoning your position in an argument. No object: you never back someone off.
to bump intoB1informal /ˌbʌmp ˈɪntu/ meet someone by chance when you were not expecting to Synonyms: meet by chance, come across	meet by chance	I bumped into my old neighbor at the supermarket and we talked for half an hour.
Chance is essential, so a planned meeting is never bumping into someone. The literal sense, walking into an object, uses the same words: I bumped into the table. Inseparable: bump into her, never bump her into.
to dig outB2informal /ˌdɪɡ ˈaʊt/ find something that has been stored away or forgotten Synonyms: find, unearth, retrieve	find something stored	I dug out my winter boots from the back of the closet and they still fit.
Some searching is implied, so something in plain sight is not dug out. The literal meaning, removing earth or snow, works the same way. Separable: dig the photos out, or dig them out, never dig out them.
to hold ontoB2informal /ˌhoʊld ˈɑntu/ keep something instead of giving it away or throwing it out Synonyms: keep, retain, hang onto	resist getting rid of	Hold onto the receipt in case the shoes turn out to be the wrong size.
Retain is the formal single word on a written notice. It also means grip something physically, as in hold onto the rail, so the object shows whether the meaning is keeping or gripping. Inseparable: hold onto it, never hold it onto.
to hand backB2neutral /ˌhænd ˈbæk/ give something back to the person it belongs to Synonyms: return, give back, restore	return to the owner	The driver handed my wallet back and refused to take anything for it.
Return is the single-word equivalent in writing, and hand back always involves a physical object passing between two people. The owner follows with to. Separable: hand the keys back, or hand them back, never hand back them.
to take backB1neutral /ˌteɪk ˈbæk/ return something you bought to the shop where you bought it Synonyms: return, exchange, give back	return to the store	I'm taking this jacket back tomorrow because one of the pockets is already torn.
Take back words means admit you should not have said them: I take it back, I'm sorry. In the returning sense the store follows with to. Separable: take the shirt back, or take it back, never take back it.
to save upB1neutral /ˌseɪv ˈʌp/ keep money over a period of time to buy something expensive Synonyms: put by, accumulate, save	keep money for something	They saved up for two years and paid for the whole kitchen without borrowing.
The up adds a purpose: save money is general thrift, while save up points at something you intend to buy. The goal follows with for. Usually no object, though an amount can separate it: save it up.
to chip inB2informal /ˌtʃɪp ˈɪn/ each give a small amount of money towards something shared Synonyms: contribute, pitch in, pay in	each give money	We all chipped in ten dollars and bought her flowers and a card.
Several people are needed, so one person paying alone is not chipping in. Contribute is the formal single word, and it also means interrupt with a remark. Usually no object; an amount can follow directly, as in the example, and the purpose takes for.
to shop aroundB2neutral /ˌʃɑp əˈraʊnd/ compare prices in different shops before you buy Synonyms: compare prices, look around	compare prices	Shop around a bit before you sign, because the first insurance quote was the worst.
Several sellers are part of the meaning, and it is used about insurance and loans as much as about goods in stores. Add what you are pricing with for. No object: you do not shop something around.
to run upB2neutral /ˌrʌn ˈʌp/ cause a bill or debt to become large over time Synonyms: accumulate, rack up, incur	let a bill grow	He ran up a huge phone bill calling home every night from the hotel.
The object is nearly always a bill, a debt or charges, and the growth is gradual and usually unwise. Incur is the formal single word in writing. Separable: run a bill up, or run it up, never run up it.
to dip intoB2neutral /ˈdɪp ˌɪntu/ spend part of money you had saved for something else Synonyms: draw on, use, break into	spend part of savings	We had to dip into our savings to pay for the roof repair last winter.
Only part of the money is taken, which is the whole point of the image: emptying the account is not dipping into it. Nothing goes inside the phrase, so dip into your savings, never dip your savings into. Draw on is the neutral written equivalent. A book or a report can be dipped into as well.
to live onB2neutral /ˈlɪv ˌɑn/ have a particular amount of money or food to survive on Synonyms: survive on, subsist on, manage on	survive on an amount	It's not easy to live on one salary in this city with three children.
The object is money or food. Live on with no object means continue to exist after death or loss, as in her music lives on, and there it takes nothing after it. Inseparable: live on very little, never live very little on.
to scrape byB2informal /ˌskreɪp ˈbaɪ/ have just enough money to live, with nothing left over Synonyms: just manage, survive, make ends meet	barely manage financially	They scraped by on her part-time wages until he found work in the spring.
Difficulty is built in, so nobody scrapes by comfortably. It can also describe barely passing a test: she scraped by with the lowest mark that still counted. No object; the amount follows with on.
to come toB2neutral /ˈkʌm tu/ reach a particular total when everything is counted Synonyms: total, amount to, add up to	total, amount to	The groceries came to eighty dollars, which is more than I expected.
Come to with no amount means regain consciousness, so the number is what fixes the meaning. Total and amount to are the equivalents on a written bill. Inseparable, with a sum after to: it comes to thirty dollars.
to mark downB2neutral /ˌmɑrk ˈdaʊn/ reduce the price of something in a shop Synonyms: reduce, discount, cut	reduce the price	They marked the coats down twice and I still thought they were expensive.
The noun is a markdown and marked down is the adjective on a label. Its opposite is mark up, which is raising a price. Separable, and a pronoun must split it: mark it down, never mark down it.
to rip offB2informal /ˌrɪp ˈɔf/ charge someone much more than something is worth Synonyms: overcharge, cheat, swindle	charge far too much	That garage ripped us off; the same repair costs half as much across town.
Separable, and with a pronoun it must separate: they ripped me off, never ripped off me. The noun is a rip-off, meaning something far too expensive. Overcharge is the neutral word a written complaint would use.
to cough upB2informal /ˌkɔf ˈʌp/ pay money that you do not want to pay Synonyms: pay, fork over, hand over	pay unwillingly	In the end we had to cough up forty dollars just to park for the evening.
Reluctance is the whole point, so a willing payment is not coughed up. It is casual, so a bill or a letter would simply say pay. Separable, and a pronoun must split it: cough it up, never cough up it.
to pull throughB2neutral /ˌpʊl ˈθru/ survive a serious illness or a very difficult time Synonyms: survive, recover, come through	survive an illness	The doctors weren't sure at first, but she pulled through and came home in April.
The situation must be genuinely serious, so nobody pulls through a cold. Usually no object; with one it separates and means help someone survive: her family pulled her through the worst of it.
to act upB2informal /ˌækt ˈʌp/ behave badly, or work unreliably, of a machine or part of the body Synonyms: misbehave, malfunction, give trouble	behave or work badly	My knee acts up whenever the weather turns cold and damp.
It suits children, machines and old injuries alike, and always means occasional trouble rather than a permanent fault. British speakers say play up instead. No object: you never act the printer up.
to zone outB2informal /ˌzoʊn ˈaʊt/ stop paying attention and think about nothing for a while Synonyms: daydream, drift off, tune out	stop paying attention	I zoned out during the second half of the movie and missed the whole ending.
It is American and very casual, so a written note would say lost concentration. Unlike falling asleep, you are still awake, just not present in the room. No object: you never zone something out.
to stress outB2informal /ˌstrɛs ˈaʊt/ make someone very worried, or become very worried Synonyms: worry, upset, overwhelm	make very anxious	The whole move stressed her out so much that she stopped sleeping properly.
Stressed out is the usual adjective, stronger than simply busy or tired. It also works with no object: I'm stressing out about Friday. With an object it is separable: stress him out, never stress out him.
to kick inB2informal /ˌkɪk ˈɪn/ start to have an effect, especially medicine or a rule Synonyms: take effect, start working	start having an effect	Give the painkiller twenty minutes to kick in before you try to stand up.
Take effect is the neutral phrase a leaflet would print. The start is noticeable and fairly sudden, which is why waiting for it to kick in is such a common line. The medicine or rule is the subject; no object.
to sink inB2informal /ˌsɪŋk ˈɪn/ be understood completely, after some time has passed Synonyms: be absorbed, hit home, land	become real to you	It took a week for the news about the house to really sink in.
Slowness is part of the meaning, so something understood at once has not sunk in, it was simply understood. The past forms are sank and sunk. The news or fact is the subject and there is no object: it hasn't sunk in yet.
to dawn onB2neutral /ˈdɔn ˌɑn/ become clear to someone suddenly, after they failed to see it Synonyms: occur to, strike, hit	suddenly realize	It suddenly dawned on me that I had left the keys inside the car.
The realization is the subject and the person follows on, usually in the pattern it dawned on me that. You cannot say I dawned on it. It names the moment of realizing, while sink in names the slow acceptance afterwards.
to look backB1neutral /ˌlʊk ˈbæk/ think about something that happened in the past Synonyms: reflect, reminisce, recall	remember the past	Looking back, I should have taken the job in the city when they offered it.
Looking back at the start of a sentence works like a comment on the whole thought. The past follows with on or at: look back on those years. No object of its own, and physically turning your head uses the same words.
to move onB2neutral /ˌmuv ˈɑn/ stop thinking about something sad and start a new part of your life Synonyms: recover, start afresh, let go	leave the past behind	It took him a year after the divorce, but he's finally moved on.
It also means change to the next topic, as in let's move on. Move on is emotional and move out is physical, so the two are never interchangeable. No object; what you leave behind follows with from.

English Phrasal Verbs — Everyday Official

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