- Phrasal Verbs (Sentence examples: save on – serve out)
- Phrasal Verbs (Sentence examples: show around/round – slip up)
Phrasal Verb |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
set about |
To begin to deal with something. |
We set about cleaning up the whole house after the flood. |
|
To start to do something in a determined way. |
The police set about gathering evidence in the house where the murder took place. |
|
To attack someone. |
The gang set about him with their punches. |
set against |
To offset something against another. |
The increases in our salaries have to be set against the rising cost of living. |
To cause someone to be in conflict with another. |
The dispute over inheritance has set sibling against sibling. |
|
set apart |
To display a quality that separates someone from other people. |
It is her diligence in her studies that sets her apart from her siblings. |
set aside |
To reserve something for a particular purpose. |
Every month we set aside a portion of our salaries for the purchase of a house. |
To reserve something for a particular purpose. |
We set aside an hour each day to do the yoga together. |
|
To declare invalid. |
The High Court set aside his conviction. |
|
To reconcile. |
We are going to persuade the two sides to set aside their differences. |
|
set back |
To delay the progress of something. |
The raining season will set back the completion of the building project. |
To cost considerably. |
The house renovation has set us back quite a bit. |
|
set by |
To keep something for future use. |
We must set money by in case it is urgently needed sometime in the future. |
set down |
To record in writing. |
I woke up and set down in detail the dream I just had. |
To let somebody get out of a vehicle. |
The taxi driver set us down at a wrong cinema. |
|
set forth |
To begin a journey. |
Together, they set forth for an unknown destination. |
To express in writing. |
She set forth her ideas of controlling human mind in her latest book. |
|
set in |
To begin to happen and seem likely to continue. |
Global warming has set in and with it more problems will arise. |
set off |
To cause (bomb) to explode. |
A police spokesman said the bomb was set off using a remote control. |
To cause (alarm) to go off. |
To ensure maximum security, any little noise can set off the alarm. |
|
To begin a journey. |
The family is setting off for the Far East. |
|
To cause to happen. |
An angry argument between rival fans set off a violent disturbance. |
|
set on |
To use an animal or get someone to attack someone else. |
He has vicious dogs ready to be set on those who trespass on his property. |
set on/upon |
To be violently attacked. |
He was set upon while walking home alone. |
set out |
To start a journey. |
The brothers set out on a journey across central Asia. |
To intend to do something. |
Police investigations revealed she deliberately set out to murder her husband’s lover. |
|
To undertake to do something. |
They set out as a group to uncover the truth about the haunted castle. |
|
To arrange and display for sale, exhibition, etc. |
Every evening along the street, the traders set out their wares for sale. |
|
To aim or attempt to do something. |
He set out to break the world’s record of becoming the oldest bullfighter. |
|
To specify precisely about something. |
The document set out clear guidelines on the use of chemicals in food production. |
|
set to |
To begin doing something in a vigorous and determined way. |
We set to and completed the work well before the deadline. |
set up |
To establish a business, organization, institution, etc. |
Jack and Jill have set up a business selling rabbit food. |
To establish. |
They set up an investment fund to provide money for their retirement. |
|
To be provided with enough money to last one's lifetime. |
Owning highly successful businesses has set the father and son up for life. |
|
To give someone the health or energy needed to do something. |
A good sleep has set him up for the day of long-distance driving. |
|
To make someone who is innocent seem guilty. |
He claimed he was set up when customs officers discovered some drug in his bag. |
|
To lay claim to being a particular person. |
He sets himself up as a leading authority on termites. |
|
To erect something. |
Following the escape of a prisoner, police set up road blocks round the surrounding area. |
|
To organize and implement something. |
The company is setting up a new system of stock control in the new year. |
|
settle down |
To start to live a steady life. |
She hopes to settle down before the age of 30, and have a family. |
To start to live a steady life. |
He felt he wasn’t yet ready to settle down. |
|
To become composed. |
She settled down for a quiet doze on the sofa. |
|
To adapt. |
It didn’t take her long to settle down in her new office environment. |
|
settle for |
To accept something that is less than the exact thing that you want. |
The dress of her favourite colour is out of stock, and she settled for a blue one. |
To accept less than what you really want. |
They were prepared to settle for a draw, knowing that their opponent was very difficult to play against. |
|
settle in/into |
To become used to a place. |
The kids settled happily into their new school. |
settle on |
To decide or agree on something. |
They have not settled on the date for their marriage. |
To transfer money or property to someone. |
He drew up a will to settle a yearly sum on each of his children. |
|
settle up |
To pay money owed or due. |
Let’s settle up and leave this bar for supper. |
shoot down |
To kill or injure someone by firing a gun at them. |
The rebels shot down a few villagers who they claimed were government agents. |
To bring down something by shooting it. |
Our antiaircraft gun shot down six enemy aircraft. |
|
To strongly oppose. |
The proposal was unanimously shot down in the meeting. |
|
shoot for |
To strive for a goal. |
The team is training hard as it shoots for a place in the final stage. |
shoot off |
To run quickly away. |
The rival gang members stopped the fight and shot off when informed that the police were approaching. |
shoot out |
To shoot at each other. |
The bank guards and the armed robbers shot it out in front of the bank. |
shoot up |
To increase sharply. |
Prices of most kinds of baby food have shot up. |
To grow quickly in size, height, etc. |
Their children have shot up and are now taller than their parents. |
|
To be full of bullet holes. |
That the house was severely shot up was clearly evident as its walls were heavily riddled with bullet holes. |
|
To introduce a drug into the body with a hypodermic syringe. |
They would often gather together in the abandoned house to shoot up. |