English phrasal verbs with meaning and examples

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb; the combination creates a 

meaning different from the original verb alone.

Example :
To get  =  to obtain	I need to get a new battery for my camera.
To get together  =  to meet	Why don’t we all get together for lunch one day?

Phrasal verbs are part of a large group of verbs called “multi-part” or "multi-word” verbs.
The preposition or adverb that follows the verb is sometimes called a particle.

Phrasal verbs and other multi-word verbs are an important part of the English language. 

However, they are mainly used in spoken English and informal texts. They should be
avoided in academic writing where it is preferable to use a formal verb such as “to postpone”rather than “to put off”.

Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs :

Some phrasal verbs are transitive.  (A transitive verb always has an object.)
Example : I made up an excuse. ('Excuse' is the object of the verb.)

Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. (An intransitive verb does not have an object.)
Example : My car broke down.

Separable or inseparable phrasal verbs :

Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. (Object between the verb and the preposition.)
Example : I looked the word up in the dictionary.

Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. (Object after the preposition.)
Example : I will look into the matter as soon as possible.

Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places.
Example : I picked up the book.
   I picked the book up.

However, if the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the preposition.
Example : I picked it up.

Below you will find lists of the most commonly-used phrasal verbs in English.
The table below shows the first and last verb in each list.

Alphabetical lists of Phrasal Verbs

	Phrasal verbs A	abide by →   avail (oneself) of
	Phrasal verbs B	back away  →   butt in (on)
	Phrasal verbs C	call back  →  cut out
	Phrasal verbs D	deal with  →  drown out
	Phrasal verbs E-F	ease off  →  focus on
	Phrasal verbs G	get along (with)  →  grow up
	Phrasal verbs H	hand back  →  hurry up
	Phrasal verbs I-J-K	iron out →  knock out
	Phrasal verbs L	lay off  →  look up to
	Phrasal verbs M-N	make fun of  →  note down
	Phrasal verbs O-P-Q	opt out →  point out
	Phrasal verbs R-S	reel off  →  stick up for
	Phrasal verbs T	take after  →  turn down
	Phrasal verbs U-Z	use up  →  wipe off
Phrasal Verbs - 1 [verb +  preposition]  Choose a phrasal verb to replace the explanation in brackets.
1.    Every morning   I  (stop sleeping)  _________ ____   when I hear the alarm clock.                            a) wake out     b) wake up     c) wake in     d) wake off
2.   On Sundays I  can  (leave bed)  _________ ____  later.                            a) get out     b) step off     c) get up     d) step out
3.    We must  (be quick)  _________  ____  or we'll be late for school!                             a) act up      b) fasten on     c) hurry up     d) speed in
4.    John helped the old lady to  (board)  _________ ____   the bus.                             a) mount on     b) get on     c) get up     4) put on
5.    Julie went to the library to  (try to find)  _________ ____   a book.                             a)  look out     b) look after     c) look for     d) look up
6.    It's time for the news.  Let's  (start)  _________ ____ the radio.                             a) turn on     b) tune in     c) turn up     d) tune at
7.    "Please come in and  (have a seat)   _________ ____"    said the doctor.                             a) seat up     b) seat down     c) sit up     d)  sit down
8.     When Dad arrives home, he  (removes)  _________ ____    his coat.                             a) puts off     b) takes off     c) leaves in     d) takes out
9.     Dad couldn't see very well.   "  (wear)  _________ ____  your glasses" said Mum.                             a) put on     b) put away      c) put in     d) put up
10.     When we arrive at the station, we  (descend from)  _________ ____  the train.                              a) get down     b) stand down     c) get off     d) stand out

Enthusiasm - Eagerness - Motivation

English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions

ants in one's pants	People who have ants in their pants are very restless or excited about something.  I wish he'd relax. He's got ants in his pants about something today.
with bells on	If you go somewhere with bells on, you are delighted and eager to go there. Of course I'll be there - with bells on!
bounce off the walls	Someone who is very excited about something, or full of nervous energy, is said to be bouncing off the walls. Danny can't wait to start his new job.  He's bouncing off the walls.
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed	A person who is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is very enthusiastic and full of energy. Gary was fantastic. He arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 7am and worked with us all day.
cause a stir	If something causes a stir, it creates an atmosphere of excitement or great interest. The arrival of the actress caused quite a stir in the village.
champ at the bit	Someone who is champing at the bit is ready and eager to start an activity, and is showing impatience at being delayed. The press conference was delayed for such a long time that the journalists were champing at the bit.
dial it back	If you dial it back, you reduce the intensity of something, or tone it down. When Lucas started getting all excited, his mother said : Hey Lucas, dial it back a bit!
do nothing by halves	When a person does everything they are engaged in completely and thoroughly, they are said to do nothing by halves. When she cooks, it's a four-course meal - she does nothing by halves!
eager beaver	The term eager beaver refers to a person who is hardworking and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous. The new accountant works all the time -  first to arrive and last to leave. He's a real eager beaver!
eat, sleep and breathe something	If you eat, sleep and breathe something, you are so enthusiastic and passionate about it that you think about it constantly. He's an enthusiastic golfer;  he eats, sleeps and breathes it!
edge of one's seat	Someone who is on the edge of their seat is very interested in something and finds it both extremely exciting and nerve-wracking. Look at Bob! He's on the edge of his seat watching that rugby match!
fever pitch	If a situation or feeling reaches fever pitch, it becomes very intense and exciting. Reaction to the affair has reached fever pitch all over the country.
fling yourself into	If you fling yourself into an activity, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Ever since she flung herself in the anti-pollution campaign, she rarely has a free moment!
go the extra mile	If you go the extra mile, you do more than what is expected of you. You can count on Tom; he's always willing to go the extra mile.
hold your horses	If you tell someone to hold their horses, you think they are doing something too fast and should slow down and not rush into further action. Hold your horses! We need to get the customer's approval first!.
lick/smack your lips	A person who is licking (or smacking) their lips is showing that they are excited about something and are eager for it to happen. He was licking his lips at the idea of the money he was going to make.
put your heart (and soul) into	If you put your heart (and soul) into something, you are very enthusiastic and invest a lot of energy and hard work in it. Paul was determined to make a success of the project.  He put his heart and soul into it.
raring to go	If someone is raring to go, they are very eager and enthusiastic about the idea of doing something. The kids can't wait to go camping.  They're raring to go!
run out of steam	If you say that a person, a process or an organised event is running out of steam, you mean that there is a loss of impetus, energy or enthusiasm. The anti-immigrant movement seems to be running out of steam.

The difference between precedence and precedents

Precedence, Precedent

Precedent:

A precedent is an event,decision, or the like that will serve as an example or model in later cases.

• A judge's decision might be a precedent that other judges will take into account in similar trials in the future. 
• If a builder renews your contract, he shall be setting a precedent, and all other customers would expect a new contract too.
• Precedent can be an adjective as well as noun, though it is considered to be old fashioned.I guess you understand that my claim was precedent.
• Most celebrated derivative is unprecedented, meaning unheard of, original and unique.
• The government proposed unprecedented reforms for the upliftment of the downtrodden.

Precedence:

Precedence, unlike precedent, is an uncountable noun: you can speak of a precedent or five precedents, you usually cannot use a or five before precedence.

Precedence or precedent means 'going before' : both words share the Latin roots prae, 'before' + vedere, ' to go'. But, precedence suggests priority in importance rather than in time.

• Sooner or later, money takes precedence over love.