15 most common phrasal verbs in English

Phrasal verbs are a common feature of the English language. Here are 15 of the most common phrasal verbs in English, along with their meanings:

(1)   Bring up: to raise a topic or a child

(2)   Call off: to cancel something

(3)   Come across: to find or discover something unexpectedly

(4)   Cut off: to disconnect or stop something abruptly

(5)   Get along: to have a good relationship with someone

(6)   Look forward to: to be excited or eager about something in the future

(7)   Put off: to delay or postpone something

(8)   Take after: to resemble a family member in appearance or behavior

(9)   Turn down: to refuse or reject something

(10) Give up: to quit or stop trying

(11) Look up: to search for information or a word in a dictionary

(12) Put up with: to tolerate or endure something unpleasant

(13) Run into: to meet someone unexpectedly

(14) Stand up: to fail to keep an appointment or a promise

(15) Take off: to remove clothing, or to become popular or successful quickly.

 

Directions: Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentence.

(1) My little sister always ____________ my parents when she wants something.

                          A) brings up           B) looks up        C) stands up

(2) The concert was ____________ due to bad weather.

                         A) put off                B) come across   C) take after

(3) I ____________ an old photo album while cleaning my room.

                        A) put up with         B) turn down         C) came across

(4) The phone call ____________ as soon as we entered the tunnel.

                        A) got along               B) cut off               C) took off

(5) Jack and his boss ____________ very well.

                        A) get along                B) bring up            C) put off

(6) I'm really ____________ the summer holidays.

                        A) give up                    B) looking forward to      C) put up with

(7) I'm sorry, I'll have to ____________ our meeting until next week.

                        A) put off                      B) call off                C) take after

(8) She ____________ her mother in both looks and personality.

                        A) takes after                B) brings up            C) came across

(9) The company decided to ____________ the offer from their biggest competitor.

                  A) cut off                B) turn down           C) give up

(10) I had to ____________ playing soccer when I injured my ankle.

                  A) get along           B) put up with           C) give up

(11) Can you ____________ the meaning of this word for me?

                  A) bring up             B) put off                    C) look up

(12) I don't know how she can ____________ her noisy neighbors.

                  A) put up with        B) get along                C) stood up

(13) I ____________ my old friend from high school at the mall yesterday.

                  A) ran into                B) took off                  C) called off

(14) I can't believe he ____________ his date.

                 A) looked forward to B) turned down        C) stood up

(15) Her business really ____________ after she started advertising online.

                   A) came across         B) got along                C) took off

Answers:

(1) A) brings up

(2) A) put off

(3) C) came across

(4) B) cut off

(5) A) get along

(6) B) looking forward to

(7) A) put off

(8) A) takes after

(9) B) turn down

(10) C) give up

(11) C) look up

(12) A) put up with

(13) A) ran into

(14) C) stood up

(15) C) took off

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