Concrete Phrasal Verbs: English Vocabulary List

to pull or draw something in by winding it around a reel or similar device

"He reeled in a huge fish."

"The fisherman felt a strong tug on his line and began to reel in a huge fish."

to appear or come into view, often unexpectedly

"The cork bobbed up to the surface."

"The cork bobbed up to the surface of the water after being pushed down by the child's hand."

to cause something to happen, especially something undesirable or unpleasant

"Stress can bring on serious illness."

"Eating too much sugar can bring on a headache for some people who are sensitive to it."

to expand by exploring new areas, options, or opportunities

"The company branched out into new markets."

"The successful restaurant decided to branch out into catering services to reach more customers and increase its revenue."

to remove clothing or covering quickly or completely

"Strip off your wet clothes."

"The dancer had to strip off their costume quickly after the performance ended."

to visit a place or someone briefly, often without a prior arrangement

"She drops by her friend's house."

"Please drop by my office anytime this afternoon so we can discuss the details of your new project."

to produce something quickly and in large quantities, often with a focus on quantity over quality

"The factory churns out thousands of units."

"The factory can churn out thousands of car parts every day thanks to its highly efficient automated assembly line."

to manage or function without someone or something that is typically needed or desired

"I can go without coffee for a day."

"During the camping trip we had to go without electricity for three full days."

to start something by turning a handle or lever

"Crank up the engine."

"He had to crank up the old lawnmower several times before it finally sputtered to life and started cutting the grass."

to clean or remove something by flushing it with water or another liquid

"Rinse out the soapy water thoroughly."

"You should rinse out the soapy water from the bucket before storing it away in the garage."

to dominate or push aside something or someone by taking up all the available space, time, or attention

"New businesses crowd out smaller shops."

"Large corporate farms tend to crowd out smaller family farms because they can produce food more cheaply and efficiently."

to gradually decrease in number, amount, or intensity over time

"The rain tapered off by evening."

"The heavy rain began to taper off by late afternoon and eventually stopped completely by the evening."

to make something fuller or fluffier by shaking or adjusting it

"Plump up the pillows on the sofa."

"You should plump up the pillows on the sofa before the guests arrive so they look neat and inviting."

to distribute or divide something into smaller parts or portions for sharing

"He parceled out the remaining food."

"The teacher decided to parcel out the different tasks for the group project fairly among all the team members."

(of a path or road) to split into another direction, creating a separate route

"The road branches off to the left."

"The main road branches off into two smaller roads just past the old stone bridge over the river."

to watch an event or incident without getting involved

"The crowd looked on in amazement."

"The crowd looked on in horror as the building collapsed during the powerful earthquake."

to gradually move away or become distant, often in terms of physical distance or emotional detachment

"The boat drifted away from shore."

"The small boat began to drift away from the shore when the rope came loose from the dock."

to transfer something to the next generation or another person

"Traditions are passed down through families."

"The valuable antique necklace has been passed down through five generations of women in our family."

to take something away using a vehicle or transport method, often to remove or relocate it

"They hauled off the junk."

"The city council arranged for a special truck to haul off the large piles of debris left after the storm."

to stop using or having something

"Do away with that old car."

"The new CEO plans to do away with many of the old unnecessary rules that were slowing down productivity and creativity in the company."

to start a significant or challenging course of action or journey

"She embarked on a new career."

"After saving enough money she decided to embark on a new exciting career in the film industry."

to fall into pieces or separate

"The old chair broke apart."

"The ancient vase fell off the shelf and broke apart into hundreds of tiny pieces on the floor."

to remove or separate unwanted items or elements from a group

"Filter out the bad apples."

"The coffee machine has a special paper filter to filter out the small ground particles from the brewed liquid."

to say something suddenly

"He blurted out the secret accidentally."

"The young child blurted out the secret about the surprise party in front of the birthday girl by accident."

to spend much time in a specific place or with someone particular

"I like to hang out with friends."

"Teenagers often hang out at the shopping mall on weekends because there are many entertainment options available."

to stop or close off the flow or passage of something

"Shut off the engine before leaving."

"Please shut off the water main before you attempt to repair the leaking pipe under the kitchen sink."

to remove something completely

"Strip away the unnecessary layers."

"The new law would strip away many of the protections currently enjoyed by workers and make it easier for companies to fire them."

to prevent a building or a part of it from falling, by putting large pieces of wood or metal under or against it

"We need to shore up the foundation."

"The government injected money into the struggling bank to shore up its finances and prevent it from collapsing completely."

(of a computer or electronic device) to start and load the operating system into memory for use

"Boot up your computer now."

"It takes about a minute for my old computer to boot up completely after I press the power button."

to completely disappear or cease to exist

"Many animal species die out each year."

"The tradition of handmade pottery is slowly dying out because younger people are not learning the skill from their elders."

to create or forcefully find a way through an obstacle or barrier

"The sun broke through the clouds."

"The determined explorer was the first to break through the dense jungle and reach the hidden ancient ruins."

to prepare things in anticipation of a specific purpose or event

"We will set up."

"The volunteers will set up the exhibition hall in preparation for the upcoming art fair."

to begin doing something in order to reach a goal

"We set out to win."

"The explorers will set out on a perilous journey to reach the uncharted island."

to formally request or direct someone to perform a duty or task

"Call out the name."

"The manager had to call out the entire team to help finish the urgent report before the deadline."

to keep something in position using a structure or an object

"Prop up the ladder against the wall."

"The workers used long wooden beams to prop up the ceiling of the old mine to prevent it from collapsing."

to free oneself from a place that one is being held against their will, such as a prison

"Prisoners plan to break out tonight."

"The prisoners plan to break out of jail by digging a tunnel under the prison wall."

to transfer knowledge, traditions, or skills to another person or group, often to ensure they are preserved or continued

"Pass on the old stories."

"The grandfather wanted to pass on his knowledge of woodworking to his grandson before he got too old to teach him properly."

(of an event) to completely sell all available tickets, seats, leaving none remaining for further purchase

"The concert tickets sell out."

"The popular band's concert tickets sold out within minutes, leaving many fans disappointed."

(of a supply) to be completely used up

"We will run out of milk."

"The expedition realized they would soon run out of essential supplies in the harsh environment."

to suddenly stop an activity or an action

"They break off the talk."

"The two countries decided to break off negotiations after several weeks of unsuccessful talks regarding the trade agreement."

to retreat or move away from something or someone, typically in response to fear or surprise

"She drew back in fear."

"When he saw the large dog, he quickly drew back because he was very scared of animals."

to cause the death of a significant number of individuals or organisms

"The pesticide kills off harmful insects."

"The pesticide is designed to kill off the harmful insects that damage crops but it may also harm beneficial ones."

to make food very quickly

"She whipped up a quick meal."

"The experienced cook can whip up a delicious meal in under thirty minutes using simple ingredients from the pantry."

to repel or avoid an attack or undesirable situation

"He wore a hat to ward off the sun."

"The old superstition says that carrying a rabbit's foot can help to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the person who carries it."

to adjust one's actions or behavior based on specific information, ideas, or advice

"She acts on her good intentions."

"The committee decided to act on the recommendation immediately because the situation was urgent and required quick action."

to distribute something to a group of people

"Please pass out flyers."

"The event organizers will pass out complimentary brochures to all attendees upon arrival."

to stand in a line or row extending in a single direction

"Line up outside the classroom."

"The students were asked to line up outside the classroom before the teacher opened the door."

to activate a bomb, an explosive, etc.

"Do not set off."

"The bomb squad worked diligently to disarm the device and prevent anyone from accidentally setting it off."

to fall or break into pieces as a result of being in an extremely bad condition

"The old building falls apart slowly."

"The old book fell apart in my hands because the glue holding the pages together had dried out completely."

to become firmly attached to something or someone

"The idea finally latched on in his mind."

"The idea finally latched on in his mind and he understood what his teacher had been trying to explain."