| Phrasal Verb |
Definition |
Example |
| take after + |
resemble a parent or relative |
I take after my father. Who do you take after? |
| take * away + |
remove, seize or capture |
The soldiers took the captives away. |
| take * back + |
retract something you said |
I demand that you take back what you said. |
| take * back + |
return an item to a store |
The dress my grandmother bought for me didn’t fit, so I took it back and exchanged it for a pair of pants. |
| take * down + |
write down what is said |
Would you mind taking down my messages while I am on vacation? |
| take * down + |
remove (from a high place) |
The city government made the shop take down their bright, neon sign. |
| take * for |
consider, view as |
Do you take me for an idiot? |
| take * in + |
learning |
Are you taking in all of these phrasal verbs? |
| take * in + |
deceive a person |
He was taken in by the con artist. |
| take * in + |
make smaller when sewing |
I lost weight, so I need to take some of my skirts to the tailor to have them taken in. |
| take * off |
when a plane or rocket leaves the ground |
My stomach felt funny when the plane took off. |
| take * off + |
remove |
In many cultures, it is appropriate to take off your shoes when entering a house. |
| take * off + |
leave work or school for a period of time |
I was sick last week, so I took a few days off of work. |
| take off |
leave |
We took off after dinner. |
| take on + |
accept (responsibilities, work) |
She has taken on too much responsibility in this project. |
| take * over + |
take control of |
Who is going to take over the family business when Aretha’s father dies? |
| take over |
take control of |
If the President is assassinated, the Vice-president will take over. |
| take * out + |
accompany a person on a date (for dinner, the movies) |
I can’t meet you tonight because I am taking Fernanda out to dinner. |
| take * up + |
begin a new hobby |
Have you taken up any new hobbies since you moved here? |
| take * up + |
discuss (at a later date) |
We should take this issue up in the meeting tomorrow. |
| take * up + |
shorten a garment when sewing |
This dress is too long, I am going to take it up. |
| take up + |
occupy space |
This couch takes up too much space in the living room. |
| talk back |
respond in an impolite way to an adult |
Don’t talk back! |
| talk back to + |
respond in an impolite way to an adult |
Children should not talk back to their parents. |
| talk * over + |
discuss |
I hope my parents talk their relationship problems over before they get divorced. |
| tear * down + |
destroy |
The county decided to tear down the dilapidated school and build a new one. |
| tear * up + |
tear or rip into small pieces |
I always tear up my personal papers before I throw them out. |
| tell * off + |
criticize a person severely, reprimand (inf.) |
Carolina told me off when she found out I was gossiping about her date with Martin. |
| tell on + |
report a crime to the police or bad behavior to a parent |
Every time I did something wrong when I was a child, my sister would tell on me. |
| think * over + |
consider |
Think over the offer before you sign the contract. |
| think * through + |
consider carefully |
You need to think this through carefully before you make a decision. |
| think * up + |
create or invent a false story |
I need to think up an excuse for not going to her party. |
| throw * away + |
discard |
Don’t throw away those bottles; we can recycle them. |
| throw * out + |
discard |
I asked him not to throw out the Sunday newspaper because I wanted to save an article. |
| throw * out + |
remove by force from (a room, school, a house, etc.) |
Mary threw out her roommate because she stopped paying rent. |
| throw up |
vomit |
If you drink too much alcohol, you might throw up. |
| tie * up + |
tie securely |
When we dock, make sure you tie the boat up. |
| tire * out |
cause someone to be very tired |
Speaking English all day tires me out. |
| touch on + |
talk about for a short time |
The presidential candidates touched on the subject of health care during the debates. |
| touch * up |
make the final improvements |
We didn’t paint the whole kitchen, we just touched up the cabinets. |
| try * on + |
put on to make sure a piece of clothing fits |
Try on the pants before you buy them. |
| try * out |
test |
Try out this massage chair – it feels great! |
| turn * away |
refuse to deal with or give service |
They turned us away at the border because we didn’t have visas. |
| turn * around |
change or reverse direction |
Turn the car around and go back home. |
| turn * down + |
refuse an offer; reject an application |
She turned down the new job in New York, because she didn’t want to move. |
| turn * down + |
lower the volume or intensity of a TV, radio, or other machine |
I’m studying! Please turn down the TV. |
| turn * in |
submit |
You need to turn your essays in next week. |
| turn in |
go to bed (inf.) |
It’s getting late. I think it is about time to turn in. |
| turn into + |
become something different, transform |
When she kissed the frog, it turned into a handsome prince. |
| turn * off + |
stop the function of (a stove, a water faucet, a car, etc.) |
Don’t forget to turn off the iron before you leave the house. |
| turn on + |
attack unexpectedly |
The pit bull suddenly turned on the small child. |
| turn * on |
cause to be excited sexually |
Scientists have discovered that the smell of cinnamon turns many people on. |
| turn * on + |
start the function of a TV, a radio, a machine |
Turn on the TV. The baseball game starts in a few minutes. |
| turn * out |
produce |
The weavers can turn out two or three rugs a month. |
| turn * out |
switch off a light |
Turn out the light before you go to bed. |
| turn out |
audience members to a function |
Over 100,000 people turned out for the concert. |
| turn out |
end up being |
She turned out to be the murderer after all. |
| turn * over |
give to authorities (said of evidence or stolen / lost property) |
They turned the wallet over to the police. |
| turn * up + |
increase the volume or intensity of a TV, radio, or other machine |
Turn up the TV. I can’t hear what they’re saying. |
| turn up |
find unexpectedly |
My keys turned up in the bedroom. |
