Phrasal Verbs Beginning with L
- lay off
- (separable) to dismiss from a job
General Motors usually lays workers off just before Christmas so that the CEO can get a large bonus.
- leave out
- (separable) to not include
A margarita is not a margarita if you leave the tequila out.
- let down
- (separable) to disappoint
The team let the coach down.
- lie down
- (intransitive) to recline
I like to lie down in my hammock and read.
- lift up
- (separable) to elevate something
Max could not lift Mary up because she was too heavy.
- line up
- (intransitive) to stand in a line
The prisoners had to line up before they could enter the dining hall.
- line up
- (separable) to put in a row
Max likes to line up his dominos and then knock them down.
- lock in
- (separable) to lock the door so that someone can't leave
Mary was afraid that Max might flee, so she locked him in.
- lock out
- (separable) to lock the door so that someone can't enter
Jane locked Jack out of the bathroom because she wanted some privacy.
- look down on
- (inseparable) to consider inferior
The rich lady looked down on the poor homeless people in the park.
- look into
- (inseparable) to investigate
The grand jury is looking into the allegations that bribes influenced the mayor's actions.
- look out
- (intransitive) to be careful; watchful; to protect someone's interests
Most politicians just look out for themselves and their wealthy constituents. They have little regard for the average person.
- look over
- (separable) to inspect or examine (swiftly)
I looked over the contract this morning and everything seems fine.
- look up
- (separable) to find information in a book, or booklike source
Mary decided to look up her ex-boyfriend's phone number
- lop off
- (separable) to cut something off (a limb or branch of a tree)
The carpenter accidentally lopped off two of his fingers when he was cutting some wood.
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