Welcome to this English lesson where you are going to learn 52 English phrasal verbs.
These phrasal verbs are common in everyday English. Here’s how to take this lesson:
- listen to the story about Dave below with subtitles turned on
- listen again but this time notice the phrasal verbs that I use
- learn about these phrasal verbs below
Click here to watch this on YouTube
52 Commonly Used Phrasal Verbs for Everyday Conversations
Daves alarm goes off at 4:30: this means that the alarm rings or makes a sound.
- is that your alarm going off?
As soon as he gets up: to get up means to get out of your bed in the morning
- what time should we get up tomorrow?
He turns on the coffee machine: to turn something on means to start it
- how do you turn this on?
He’s run out of cream: if you run out of something, it means you don’t have any left
- We’re running out of cream (nearly gone)
It’s time to work out: to work out means to exercise
- I haven’t worked out much this week
He sets off on his 20-mile run: to set off means to start a journey/run
- what time did you set off this morning?
breathing in the ocean air: this means to inhale. It can also be used to experience something, for example:
- Breathe it in – this is magical
As he runs along the oceanfront: to run along something means to run next to something – it can be used for other things too such as:
- The trail runs along the train tracks
He’s running out of energy: similar to the milk example before, we can use this for energy, patience, and other things
- I’m running out of patience
He doesn’t give up: to give up means to quite / to stop doing something
- Don’t give up now!
He bangs out 100 push-ups: if you bang something out it means to do something in a quick manner
- Bang out three laps for me
He turns on the shower: Again, this means to start something
- Should we turn on the A.C.?
He jumps in the shower: this means to get in the shower
- The water’s cold but just jump in
He dries himself off: to dry yourself off means to dry yourself with a towel
- Give me a second – I just need to dry myself off and get changed
He opens up his computer: to open a closed laptop – it can be used to open files too:
- Open up the presentation and I’ll show you how to do it
He logs in to his emails: enter your username and password to access your emails
- I can’t log in to my account
He turns down five offers: to turn down something means to refuse to do it
- I had to turn that job down
He has to iron out a few details: to resolve/agree to some details
- Let’s iron everything out in the morning
He looks up flights to New York: find information about / research something
- Can you look something up for me?
He doesn’t have time to shop around: to shop around means to consider several options and compare prices before making a decision
- I’m going to shop around a bit
He fills out the form: to complete a form with information (name, address, etc.)
- Fill this out first and the doctor will see you soon
It’s time to get on with writing his presentation: to get on with something is to spend your time doing something
- just get on with it (in this case, just start it – it’s critical)
He doesn’t want to put this off until next week: to put something off means to delay something
- I keep putting this off
He gave them up a few years ago: to give something up means to quit something
- When did you give up alcohol
He warms up leftover pasta: to make something warm (especially, food)
- Do you want me to warm this up for you?
He digs in: to dig in means to start eating something with enthusiasm
- It’s ready. Dig in, everyone!
The afternoon is dragging on a bit: if something is dragging on it means that time is going slowly or that things aren’t going as quickly as you like
- Man, this movie is dragging on!
He adds in a little honey: to include it as part of something else
- Should I add in some wine to this pasta sauce?
He spends the rest of the afternoon finishing up his presentation: this means to complete the presentation
- I just have to finish up writing this email
It’s now time to chill out for the rest of the evening: this means to relax/take it easy – it can also mean to not worry
- Chill out – it’s not a big problem
… to see if she wants to hang out: to hang out means to spend time together in a social way
- Let’s hang out soon
He heads out just before 5: to head out means to leave your house/office to go somewhere else
- I can’t speak right now, I’m just heading out
He’s looking forward to catching up: to look forward to something means that you are excited about something
- Are you looking forward to tonight?
They grew up together: this means that they spent their childhood together
- Growing up in northern England meant playing outside in the rain
He pops in for a few minutes: to pop in means to enter someone’s house for a brief period of time
- I’m going to pop round to Dave’s to pick something up
They decide to eat out: to eat out means to eat at a restaurant
- They’re always eating out
He wolfs them down: to eat something very quickly
- I hate how he wolfs down that expensive meal
Sarah only picks at them: the opposite of wolf down – to not eat a lot and eat slowly
- I’m going to get extra chips as I know she’ll pick at them
They then go through the menu again: this means to look at the menu again to see what’s on offer
- I haven’t gone through the menu yet
… and pick out a main meal to share: this means to choose something
- She takes forever picking out an outfit
Sarah then knocks back a couple of very expensive cocktails: to drink – usually alcohol – quickly
- He’s knocking back beers like there’s no tomorrow
He’s trying to cut back on alcohol during the week: this means to reduce
- I’ve cut back on sugar
They actually run into an old friend from school: to meet someone who you know by chance
- Guess who I ran into today!
They decide to stay out a bit longer: to remain out of the home
- I couldn’t stay out late on a school night
Dave drops Sarah off at home: to drop someone off means to take them home (in a car)
- Can you drop me off?
He has enough time to write down what he has learned that day: to write something on a piece of paper
- Write this down
He then turns off the lights: the opposite of turn on
- Can you turn your light off?
He gets into bed: to enter your bed
- He hurt his knee getting out of his car
And passes out immediately: to fall asleep straight away
- I was so tired I passed out on the train
What to Do Now?
Please share this lesson with your friends and if you’re a teacher, with your learners.
Watch other phrasal verb lessons here:
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