Home of English Grammar

Grammar Guide
  • Home
  • Exercises
  • Matches
  • Rules
  • Tools
    • Grammar Checker
    • Very Replacer
    • Word Counter
  • Top Social Media Posts
  • Vocabulary
  • Writing Guides
  • Contact

Phrasal verbs

January 5, 2015 - pdf

Here are some common phrasal verbs in English.

Screw up

When something screws up somebody, it confuses or hurts them.

Scratch out

To scratch out is to make a living with great difficulty.

Seal off

To seal off an area is to block it or prevent access to it.

Set off

To set off is to start a journey.

Shake off

To shake something off is to get rid of it.

Spruce up

To spruce up is to smarten up.

Splash out

To splash out is to spend a lot of money on something

Stick around

To stick around is to stay in the same place for a long time.

Dish out

To dish out is to give something (usually criticism) in large amounts

Spew out

To spew something out is to produce a lot of it.

Spark off

To spark something off is to make it happen.

Dish out

To dish something out is to give something (usually something bad) freely and in large amounts.

Shoot off

To shoot off is to leave in a hurry.

Mug up

To mug up is to study hard.

Shake off

To shake something off is to get rid of that.

Stand by (somebody)

To stand by someone is to support them when they need you.

Stand (somebody) up

To stand somebody up is to arrange to meet somebody and not go.

Stand in for

To stand in for somebody is to do their job temporarily.

Stand out

Actually this is an inseparable phrasal verb. When something stands out, it becomes clearly noticeable.

Stand down

To stand down is to resign

  • Share
  • Post
  • Post
  • Email
NEW: Try Matches, our daily vocabulary challenge. Pick a topic and level and match words with definitions to boost your vocabulary.
2,485,429 
741,874 
Improve Your Grammar
  • Download 2026 Grammar Guide (PDF)
  • Free Weekly Exercises & Vocabulary
  • Join over 3 Million English Learners
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

Grammar Checker

GrammarCheck.net - Try online
Hint → Bookmark GrammarCheck for future use.

Latest Posts

  • 100 Other Words for “Accept” March 9, 2026
  • Subtle Tense Choice in High-Level Writing Exercise March 9, 2026
  • 100 Most Common Academic Words March 9, 2026
  • 100 Other Words for “Initiative” March 9, 2026
  • 100 Other Words for “Moment” March 9, 2026
  • 100 High-Frequency Words for Cambridge English Exams March 9, 2026
  • 100 Other Words for “Consider” March 9, 2026

Copyright © 2026 · EnglishGrammar.org
Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Sitemap · Terms

Improve Your Grammar
  • Download 2026 Grammar Guide (PDF)
  • Free Weekly Exercises & Vocabulary
  • Join over 3 Million English Learners
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.