25 Phrasal Verbs With Multiple Meanings
One reason phrasal verbs are so hard is that they often have more than one meaning.
Some phrasal verbs can have three, four, or even seven different definitions.
Here are 25 phrasal verbs with multiple meanings. How many of the definitions do you know?
Interested in learning idioms? If so, check out the idioms and phrasal verb section of the site.
back up
1. to make a copy of a computer file or data file so that the contents of the file are not lost forever
“Even though you saved your thesis to the cloud, I’d still back it up on a thumb drive. You want to be absolutely sure you don’t lose the file.”
2. to support someone by publicly agreeing with that person
“Thanks for backing me up at the meeting. I know a lot of people agreed with me, but you were the only one who wasn’t too scared to say how you really feel.”
3. to prove something with facts or support
“I’m willing to listen to your argument if you back it up with facts and statistics.”
4. to cause traffic to stop moving
“Cars are backed up for miles on the highway. There was a big accident.”
5. to move or drive backwards
“You’re parked way too close to the car next to you. Back up and try it again.”
6. to do someone’s job in their absence
“Who is backing you up while you are on vacation?”
blow up
1. to cause something to explode
“In the movies, cars blow up all the time. In real life, car explosions aren’t common.”
2. to fill something with air or gas
“Did you blow up all the balloons I bought for the party?”
3. to make a photograph bigger
“Do you have a good picture of your dad that we can blow up and display at his birthday party?”
4. to suddenly display anger
“Some people have a tendency to blow up at their loved ones when they are stressed out.”
bring up
1. to mention something
“Beverly has been having some health problems, but she’d rather not talk about it. Please don’t bring it up.”
2. to raise a child
“Karen lives in Tennessee, but she was brought up in Canada.”
check out
1. to leave a hotel
“Hurry up! We have to pay extra if we don’t check out before 11 a.m.”
2. to pay at a cash register at a store
“Are you ready to check out, or do you still have some things on your shopping list?”
3. to borrow a book from a library
“We should check out some books from the library before we go to the beach for the weekend.”
4. to examine something
“It’s a great podcast. You should really check it out.”
5. to seem to be true after examining the facts
“The police are checking if the suspect’s alibi checks out.”
cut off
1. to remove something by cutting
“The tag on my jeans was itching me, so I cut it off.”
2. to stop the supply of something
“Bartenders should cut off their customers if they are drunk.”
3. to interrupt someone
“I’m trying to make my point, but you keep cutting me off. Can I finish?”
4. to cause a phone call to disconnect
“I called my friend four or five times, but we kept getting cut off. Cell phone service isn’t great up in the mountains.”
cut out
1. to remove something by cutting
“My mom used to cut out articles from the newspaper that mentioned my father’s business.”
2. to stop doing something (often cut it out)
“My roommates were yelling and playing music while I was trying to study. I told them to cut it out, but they wouldn’t listen.”
3. to remove a part of a movie, speech, book, etc.
“It must be frustrating for actors when their scenes get cut out of movies.”
get by
1. to have just enough of something so that you can do what you need to do
“When her dad lost his job, Maria’s family had to get by on just her mother’s income.”
2. to pass unnoticed
“We all wanted Drake’s autograph, but we knew we probably wouldn’t be able to get by his bodyguards.”
give away
1. to give something to someone for free
“You should give this couch away instead of throwing it out. It’s still in pretty good shape.”
2. to show an emotion that you want to conceal
“She’s hard to read. Her face never gives anything away.”
3. to give information that should be kept secret
“Tell me how the movie was, but don’t give away the ending.”
give up
1. to stop trying to accomplish something that you are trying to do
“You shouldn’t completely give up on your dream of being a professional DJ, but it’s good to have a back-up plan.”
2. to stop believing something
“I’m an optimist who doesn’t give up hope easily.”
3. to stop doing something that you often do
“If you want to get in shape quickly, you should give up drinking.”
go out
1. to leave the house to go do something fun
“I’m an introvert. Most of the time I’d rather binge watch Netflix instead of going out.”
2. to have a romantic relationship with someone
“I used to go out with a guy who played the drums.”
3. to stop burning or producing light
“Our campfire went out in the middle of the night and we all got cold.”
4. to be sent by mail
“Your bill went out yesterday, so you should receive it in the mail soon.”
5. to exit a competition by losing
“Our lacrosse team went out in the second round of the tournament.”
6. to stop being trendy or fashionable
“Long, baggy shorts went out of style years ago.”
hang up
1. to end a phone call
“I always immediately hang up on telemarketers.”
2. to put a piece of clothing on a hanger or hook
“Don’t throw your jacket on your bed. Hang it up in the closet.”
look up
1. to find a piece of information by consulting a reference material
“When I read an article in English, I always look up all the words I don’t recognize.”
2. to visit someone when you are visiting their area
“We have an Australian friend who told us to look her up if we were ever in Melbourne.”
3. to get better (for situations)
“Things are starting to look up. I finally got the promotion I was waiting for, and I started dating a wonderful person.”
make out
1. to be able to see, identify, or understand with difficulty or great effort
“I speak a little French, but I can’t make out what they’re saying in the video.”
2. to cause people to have a false opinion about someone else
“Are you trying to make me out to be a liar?”
3. to write the details (name, date, amount, etc.) on a check
“Who should I make the check out to?”
4. to make progress or fare
“How did you make out at the dentist the other day?”
5. to kiss and touch in a sexual way
“This couple was making out on the bus today. It was gross.”
make up
1. to invent something (a lie, reason, excuse, etc.)
“If you don’t want to go to the party, why don’t you make up an excuse?”
2. to compose or constitute
“iPhone sales make up the majority of Apple’s revenue.”
3. to no longer be mad at someone after an argument or disagreement
“Keith was fighting with his girlfriend, but they have since made up.”
4. to compensate for something (such as neglect, a mistake, on omission, etc.)
“I get an additional three vacation days to make up for having to work on Christmas.”
pass out
1. to become unconscious (due to heat, drugs, alcohol, extreme exhaustion, etc.)
“Phoenix was way too hot for me. I went for a walk one afternoon and thought I was going to pass out.”
2. to distribute something to members of a group
“The professor is going to pass out the syllabus at the end of class.”
pick up
1. to lift something
“I can’t pick this couch up by myself. I’m going to need some help.”
2. to give someone a ride in a vehicle
“What time should I pick you up for work tomorrow?”
3. to learn a new skill (often the ability to speak a language)
“I picked up a little Arabic while I was in Saudi Arabia.”
4. to buy something at a store
“Could you please pick up some milk on your way home from work?”
5. to notice something
“They were smiling and trying to act natural, but I was able to pick up on the tension in the room.”
6. to start something after stopping
“Let’s take a break. After lunch we’ll pick up where we left off.”
7. to improve
“Sales have been picking up now that it’s the holiday season.”
take back
1. to return something to a store for a refund or exchange
“This sweater doesn’t fit, but I don’t know if I can still take it back to the store.”
2. to retract a statement
“I’m sorry for what I said when we were fighting. I take it back.”
take off
1. to remove clothing
“Please take off your shoes before entering the house.”
2. to leave the ground and start flying
“After we take off, I’m going to put my headphones on and try to take a nap.”
3. to become successful
“It was an interesting idea for a product, but it never really took off.”
4. to take a vacation day, sick day, or personal day from work
“I’ve been stressed at work lately, so I decided to take Friday off.”
5. to leave (informal)
“All right, I’m gonna take off. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
take out
1. to remove something from a pocket, bag, drawer, etc.
“Everyone take out a pencil. It’s time for the test.”
2. to take someone to a restaurant, movie, concert, or other event and pay for that person
“My parents always take me out for my birthday.”
3. to get money or a loan from a bank
“Have you thought about taking out a loan to help you pay for some of these expenses?”
4. to kill or destroy someone or something
“The bombing raids took out a weapons factory.”
take up
1. to start a new hobby or activity
“A lot of people take up golf or fishing when they retire.”
2. to occupy space or time
“I think this dining room table takes up too much space. We need a smaller one.”
3. to accept someone’s offer
“I think I’m going to take you up on your offer to help me move this weekend. I could really use the help.”
turn around
1. to move so that you face the opposite direction
“When it started to rain, I turned around and ran home.”
2. to stop being unsuccessful and start being successful
“Real Madrid started slow this year, but they’ve since turned their season around.”
turn down
1. to reduce the intensity of something
“Could you please turn the music down? I’m trying to study.”
2. to reject an offer or request
“Why did you turn down the job? I thought you said it was perfect for you.”
turn in
1. to give something to an authority
“Please don’t turn in this essay until you correct the grammar. You need to get a good grade on this assignment.”
2. to go to bed
“You look terrible. Try to turn in early tonight if you can.”
turn up
1. to increase the intensity of something
“Turn it up! This is my song.”
2. to arrive unexpectedly
“You won’t believe who turned up to the party.”
3. to be found after being lost
“I can’t find my favorite pair of jeans. I hope they turn up somewhere.”
work out
1. to exercise vigorously (run, lift weights, bike, etc.)
“Do you prefer to work out before or after work?”
2. to solve a problem or deal with a problem in a satisfactory way
“My roommate and I fought when we first moved in together, but we were eventually able to work things out.”
For more idiomatic expressions, see these articles on idioms and phrasal verbs.
