Phrasal Verbs Beginning with C

call off

(separable) to cancel

Mary decided to call off her wedding with max.

call up

(separable) to telephone

Mary called the priest up to tell him the wedding was off.

calm down

(separable) to stop being emotionally distressed

Max was so upset that nothing could calm him down.

carry on

(intransitive) to continue

Max was not sure if he could carry on any longer.

catch on

(intransitive) to become popular

Max is hoping that being short, fat, and bald will catch on.

check in

(separable) to register(usually at a hotel, airport, or hospital)

The terrorist sweated nervously as he checked his baggage in.

cheer on

(separable) to support or encourage with shouts of praise

The crowd at the marathon cheered the runners on.

cheer up

(intransitive) to become happier or less miserable

Max cheered up at the end of the night.

cheer up

(separable) to make someone become happier or less miserable

We tried very hard to cheer Mary up, but nothing we did worked.

chicken out

(intransitive) not to do something because of fear

Max wanted to ask Mary out on a date, but he chickened out.

clean up

(separable) to clean completely

When living with others it is important to clean up after yourself.

color in

(separable) to fill with color (usually an outline)

Max happily colored in the pictures in his textbook.

come about

(intransitive) to happen

How did that come about?

come across

(inseparable) to find by chance

As Max was cleaning up his room he came across Mary's phone number.

come along

(intransitive) to progress

Things are coming along well at work these days.

come along

(intransitive) to accompany someone who takes the lead

Ralph asked me to come along on the trip, but I decided not to.

come along

(intransitive) to appear

Max was quite happy until Mary came along.

come around

(intransitive) to change one?s opinion or position

After our long debate, Max finally came around to my point of view.

come back

(intransitive) to return to a place one has been before; to return to a previous activity

Max left our office, but quickly came back after discovering he had left his keys here.

come back

(intransitive) to be restored

I was sick and weak, but now I feel better and my strength is coming back.

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