- Phrasal Verbs (Sentence examples: show around/round – slip up)
- Phrasal Verbs (Sentence examples: stay behind – switch over)
Phrasal Verb |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
To make or become slower. |
The police roadblock had slowed down traffic to a big snarl-up. |
|
slow down |
To reduce speed of a vehicle. |
I think you should slow down when you approach a bend. |
|
To reduce one’s speed. |
We had to slow down as the path began to zigzag steeply uphill. |
snap off |
To turn off a light. |
She stopped reading, snapped off the light and closed her eyes to sleep. |
snap on |
To turn on a light. |
She snapped on the light when she entered the bedroom. |
snap out of |
To get out of a bad mood. |
It’s unlike you to be so irritable; I wish you would snap out of it. |
snap up |
To quickly acquire something because it is cheap or in short supply. |
Hordes of customers snapped up the bargains that were on offer. |
speak of |
To indicate something exists. |
His belief that the law did not apply to him spoke of arrogance. |
To indicate something is real. |
I have to take this lowly job as I have no paper qualifications – none to speak of. |
|
speak out |
To voice protest about an issue. |
The students spoke out against fraud and mismanagement in the university. |
speak to |
To talk to someone who has committed a wrong. |
The supervisor wants to speak to the two workers who fought in the canteen. |
speak up |
To speak loudly. |
You are asking me to speak up when I am shouting into the phone. |
To speak loudly. |
Those at the back will have to speak up. |
|
To speak without fear. |
If you feel so strongly about it, you can speak up at the next meeting. |
|
stamp out |
To forcibly put an end to something. |
The new government is determined to stamp out corruption. |
To put out. |
He stamped out the dying flame. |
|
stand against |
To be a candidate in an election. |
The daughter will be standing against her mother in the parliamentary election. |
stand around |
To stand somewhere and do nothing. |
The crowd just stood around waiting for the ambulance to arrive. |
stand aside |
To give up one’s position |
He decided to stand aside and let a younger person take over. |
stand by |
To be ready for action if needed. |
There is only one ambulance standing by at this moment. |
To maintain one’s attitude towards an issue. |
She stood by what she said and would not retract her statement. |
|
To not get involved. |
How could the world stand by and let this country go through a prolonged civil war? |
|
To remain loyal to or supportive of someone. |
Family members and friends stood by him throughout his trial. |
|
To support and defend. |
The collective decision has been made and every member has to stand by it. |
|
stand down |
To leave the witness box. |
The witness stood down after giving oral testimony about the murder. |
To resign. |
He stepped down as Managing Director in favour of his eldest son. |
|
stand for |
To accept someone or something unpleasant with patience. |
He is not going to stand for her personal insults much longer. |
To represent. |
Many people know ‘IOU’ stands for ‘I owe you’. |
|
To publicly support a particular cause or policy. |
We have yet to know what the newly-formed party stands for. |
|
stand in |
To act as a substitute. |
His two assistants stand in for him when he’s on a foreign assignment. |
stand out |
To be easily noticeable. |
Your dyed orange hair will certainly make you stand out in any crowd. |
To be clearly better or the best. |
Among the applicants, Julia stood out from the rest as the most qualified. |
|
stand out against |
To continue opposing or supporting something. |
The local people are standing out against the dumping of toxic waste. |
stand up |
To stand on one’s feet. |
He looks taller if he stands up straight. |
To stay valid. |
The defence believed the charges were fabricated and would not stand up in court. |
|
stand up for |
To do something in defence of |
You should stand up for your rights as citizens of this country. |
stand up to |
To strongly defend against. |
He wouldn’t dare stand up to his female boss even though he knew he was right. |
To remain undamaged or unaffected by. |
Can the boat that we built stand up to every weather condition at sea? |
|
start off |
To begin doing something. |
His father started him off as a management trainee in his company. |
To begin by doing something. |
He started it off by giving a brief account of how he became a public speaker. |
|
To set forth. |
We have to start off early in order to arrive there before dusk. |
|
start on |
To begin to deal with something. |
The first coat of paint has thoroughly dried; we can now start on the top coat. |
start on at |
To talk in a critical way. |
She started on at me for not helping but only helping to eat. |
start out |
To begin one’s working life. |
He started out as a lance corporal but now he is a sergeant. |
start over |
To redo from the beginning. |
Your summary is full of mistakes; I’ll start over with you. |
To set up something. |
I think we have to start up a different business; this one is failing. |
|
start up |
To organize something. |
The residents are starting up a vigilante group to patrol the neighbourhood. |
To become operational. |
We had to call in the serviceman as the machine wouldn’t start up this morning. |