Make up |
Invent a story or excuse |
He had to make up a good reason for being late. |
Pick up |
Lift or collect something |
Can you pick up some groceries on your way home? |
Put off |
Postpone or delay |
They had to put off the meeting until next week. |
Run out of |
Deplete the supply of something |
We ran out of milk and need to buy more. |
Set up |
Arrange or establish something |
He helped set up the new computer. |
Take off |
Remove or start to fly (for planes) |
The plane is about to take off. |
Turn on |
Activate or start |
Don’t forget to turn on the lights. |
Wake up |
Stop sleeping |
I usually wake up at 7 AM. |
Blow up |
Explode or become angry |
The fireworks will blow up in the sky. |
Bring in |
Introduce or involve someone |
They decided to bring in a consultant. |
Call up |
Phone or contact someone |
I’ll call up my friend to check. |
Come up with |
Invent or think of an idea |
Can you come up with a better solution? |
Count on |
Rely on someone or something |
You can always count on him for help. |
Deal with |
Handle or manage a situation |
She knows how to deal with difficult clients. |
Find out |
Discover or learn something |
I want to find out the truth. |
Get over |
Recover from an illness or setback |
It took a while to get over the flu. |
Give up |
Quit or stop trying |
Don’t give up; keep going. |
Go on |
Continue or proceed |
The show must go on despite the rain. |
Hold up |
Delay or obstruct |
The traffic accident held up the commuters. |
Keep on |
Continue doing something |
Keep on practicing to improve. |
Look up |
Search for information |
You can look up words in the dictionary. |
Make out |
Discern or understand |
I couldn’t make out what she was saying. |
Pass out |
Faint or distribute |
He passed out from exhaustion. |
Pick out |
Choose or select |
Please pick out a gift for your sister. |
Put on |
Wear clothing or gain weight |
She put on a beautiful dress for the party. |
Run into |
Encounter unexpectedly |
I ran into my old friend at the mall. |
Settle down |
Establish a stable life |
After traveling, they decided to settle down. |
Take on |
Accept a responsibility or challenge |
She’s willing to take on the new project. |
Turn off |
Deactivate or stop |
Don’t forget to turn off the oven. |
Wake up |
Stop supporting a cause or person |
Many voters woke up to the candidate’s flaws. |
Break down |
Fail or stop working |
The car broke down on the highway. |
Bring over |
Invite someone to one’s house |
Let’s bring over some snacks for the party. |
Call for |
Require or demand |
The situation calls for immediate action. |
Come down with |
Become ill with a disease |
She came down with the flu last week. |
Count up |
Add or calculate |
Let’s count up the money we’ve collected. |
Deal out |
Distribute cards or distribute fairly |
He dealt out the playing cards. |
Find something out |
Discover information |
She found out about the surprise party. |
Get through |
Complete or finish something |
I need to get through this book by tomorrow. |
Go through |
Experience or examine carefully |
We all go through difficult times. |
Hold back |
Restrain or not show emotion |
She couldn’t hold back her tears. |
Keep out |
Prevent entry or exclude |
Please keep out of the restricted area. |
Look after |
Take care of or supervise |
She has to look after her younger siblings. |
Make up for |
Compensate for a mistake |
He tried to make up for being late. |
Pass away |
Die |
His grandmother passed away last night. |
Pick up on |
Notice or become aware of |
She can pick up on subtle cues. |
Put out |
Extinguish a fire or make an effort |
He had to put out the burning candle. |
Run over |
Hit with a vehicle or review quickly |
The car ran over a trash can. |
Set up |
Frame someone or arrange something |
It’s a trap to set up the thieves. |
Take up |
Begin a hobby or occupation |
She decided to take up painting. |
Turn up |
Appear or increase in volume |
The music suddenly turned up. |
Wake up |
Awaken someone |
I need to wake up my son for school. |
Break in |
Enter a building illegally or wear in |
Someone tried to break in last night. |
Bring about |
Cause something to happen |
His actions brought about positive change. |
Call on |
Visit or ask for a response |
We will call on the expert for advice. |
Come up |
Arise or be mentioned |
An unexpected opportunity came up. |
Count down |
Gradually decrease or anticipate |
Let’s count down to the new year. |
Deal in |
Be involved in a particular business |
He deals in real estate. |