In this post, I’ll cover idiomatic phrasal verbs you should know to sound more natural and fluent.
When learning English, you’ve probably heard about phrasal verbs—those tricky combinations of verbs and prepositions (or adverbs) that often don’t mean what they seem.
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of everyday English and are widely used by native speakers.
They can be confusing because their meanings are often idiomatic, meaning they aren’t directly related to the individual words.
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is made up of:
- A verb (like “break,” “put,” or “take”).
- A particle, which is a preposition or adverb (like “up,” “off,” or “out”).
For example:
- “Break up” means to end a relationship.
- “Look after” means to take care of someone or something.
The tricky part is that the meaning of the whole phrase is different from the meanings of the individual words.
Why Learn Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs?
Idiomatic phrasal verbs are commonly used in both spoken and written English. Knowing them will:
- Make your English sound more natural.
- Help you understand movies, TV shows, and conversations better.
- Improve your writing, especially informal or conversational texts.
Top 20 Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs You Should Know
Here’s a list of 20 essential idiomatic phrasal verbs with simple meanings and examples to help you understand.
1. Break up
Meaning: To end a relationship.
Example:
- They decided to break up after five years together.
2. Call off
Meaning: To cancel something.
Example:
- The meeting was called off because the manager was sick.
3. Run into
Meaning: To meet someone by chance.
Example:
- I ran into an old friend at the grocery store.
4. Give up
Meaning: To stop trying or quit.
Example:
- Don’t give up on your dreams, no matter how hard it gets.
5. Look after
Meaning: To take care of someone or something.
Example:
- Can you look after my dog while I’m on vacation?
6. Turn down
Meaning: To refuse or reject something.
Example:
- She turned down the job offer because it wasn’t a good fit.
7. Put off
Meaning: To postpone or delay something.
Example:
- We had to put off the picnic because it started raining.
8. Get along (with)
Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
Example:
- My siblings and I get along really well.
9. Hang out
Meaning: To spend time relaxing or socializing.
Example:
- We often hang out at the park on weekends.
10. Run out (of)
Meaning: To use all of something and have none left.
Example:
- We ran out of milk, so I’ll go buy some more.
11. Pick up
Meaning:
- To lift something or someone.
- To learn something quickly.
Examples:
- Can you pick up the kids from school?
- She picked up Spanish while living in Mexico.
12. Set up
Meaning: To arrange or establish something.
Example:
- They set up a new office in the city center.
13. Check out
Meaning: To look at or inspect something.
Example:
- Check out this new website; it’s really helpful for learning English.
14. Give in
Meaning: To stop resisting and agree to something.
Example:
- After hours of arguing, he finally gave in and let them watch the movie.
15. Take off
Meaning:
- To leave the ground (for planes).
- To become successful quickly.
Examples:
- The plane took off at exactly 10 a.m.
- Her business really took off after she started advertising online.
16. Look up to
Meaning: To admire or respect someone.
Example:
- Many people look up to her for her hard work and determination.
17. Catch up (with)
Meaning: To reach the same level or standard as someone.
Example:
- I need to study hard to catch up with the rest of the class.
18. Drop off
Meaning:
- To deliver someone or something.
- To fall asleep.
Examples:
- Can you drop me off at the train station?
- He dropped off during the lecture because it was so boring.
19. Figure out
Meaning: To solve a problem or understand something.
Example:
- I can’t figure out how to use this new app.
20. Put up with
Meaning: To tolerate or accept something unpleasant.
Example:
- I don’t know how she puts up with his bad behavior.
Tips for Learning Phrasal Verbs
Learning idiomatic phrasal verbs can feel overwhelming at first, but here are some tips to make it easier:
1. Group Them by Topic
Instead of learning random phrasal verbs, group them by themes like relationships, work, travel, or emotions.
For example:
- Work: Call off, set up, turn down.
- Travel: Take off, drop off, run out of.
2. Use Flashcards
Create flashcards with the phrasal verb on one side and its meaning and example on the other. Review them daily to reinforce your memory.
3. Practice in Context
Try using the phrasal verbs in sentences or conversations. For example, instead of saying, “I cancelled the meeting,” say, “I called off the meeting.”
4. Watch Movies and TV Shows
Listening to native speakers is one of the best ways to learn how phrasal verbs are used in real-life situations. Pay attention to the phrases they use and try to understand them from context.
5. Learn Slowly but Consistently
Don’t try to learn too many phrasal verbs at once. Start with a few, use them regularly, and gradually expand your knowledge.
Why Context Matters
The same phrasal verb can have different meanings depending on the context. For example:
- Take off:
- The plane took off. (to leave the ground)
- Her career took off. (to become successful)
Understanding the context will help you figure out the correct meaning.
Final Thoughts
Idiomatic phrasal verbs are a crucial part of English.
They may seem challenging, but with practice, you’ll become more comfortable using them.
Start by focusing on the most common ones listed in this post, and gradually expand your knowledge.
Remember, consistency is key—practice them daily and try to use them in your conversations.
Soon, you’ll sound more fluent and natural in English!
Happy learning! 😊
You may also like these English learning articles:
- 25 Idioms in English About Nationalities
- 30 B1-B2 English Idioms to Spice Up Your English
- 25 English Idioms About Life and What They Mean
- 25 English Idioms About Men and Women
- 25 Idioms Related to Language: Enhance Your Communication
