Phrasal Verbs

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account for account_for
(inseparable) to explain

George's wife was angry at him because he could not account for the lipstick on his collar.

acquaint with
(separable) to make someone aware of or familiar with someone or something

You should acquaint yourself with cultures from around the world.

act up act_up
(intransitive) to behave poorly(human);to reoccur(disease);to malfunction(machine)

I think I'll stand rather than sit because my hemorrhoids are acting up again

add on
(separable) to increase or enhance something by joining or uniting something to it

We've decided to add on another bedroom to the house.

add up add_up
(intransitive) to result in a certain total

I've calculated that over and over, but it just doesn't add up.

add up to add_up_to
(inseparable) to result in a certain total

The money I lost in the slot machines added up to over three hundred dollars.

ask for ask_for
(inseparable) to deserve a negative consequence

George is asking for trouble.

ask in
(separable) to request someone to come in

At the end of the date, I asked Mary in.

ask out
(separable) to request someone to go on a date with you

I asked Mary out again. She refused.

back away back_away
(intransitive) to retreat backwards

The crowd backed away as the terrorist blew himself up.

back down back_down
(intransitive) to concede in a disagreement

The mugger backed down when he saw that Max was carrying a 9mm handgun.

back up back_up
(separable) to go in reverse

When Steve passed the beautiful girl hitchhiking on the freeway, he immediately stopped the car, backed up, and offered her a ride.

back up back_up
(separable) to help or support

I will back my friends up no matter what they do.

back up back_up
(separable) to make copies of computer files just in case something happens to the original files

Please be sure to back up your files before you go home each day.

bail out bail_out
(intransitive) to jump out of an airplane (usually when it?s going to crash)

Luckily the pilot bailed out before his plane hit the side of the mountain.

bail out bail_out
(intransitive) to quit or stop doing something (usually when experiencing difficulties)

The congressional candidate bailed out of the race because there was no hope that he could raise enough money to win.

bail out bail_out
(separable) to rescue someone from a difficult situation

Max's uncle bailed him out of the financial problems he was having.

ball up
(separable) to roll or form something into a round shape

When max does his laundry, instead of folding everything nicely when it?s done, he just balls everything up and throws it in a bag.

bash in
(separable) to damage something by hitting it violently

Vandals bashed in the windows of my new Lamborghini.

beat up beat_up
(separable) to hurt someone by hitting and/or kicking them repeatedly

The bully beat the other kids up for their lunch money.

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