Cambridge

ENGLISH
PHRASAL VERBS
70 units of vocabulary
reference and practice
Self-study and
classroom use

IN USE

Second Edition

Elementary
Michael McCarthy
Felicity O'Dell

Experience

Contents
Acknowledgements
Using this book

3
4

Learning about phrasal verbs
1
2
3
4
5

Phrasal verbs: the basics
Phrasal verbs: what they mean
Particles in phrasal verbs
Nouns and adjectives based on phrasal verbs
Metaphor and register

Key verbs
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Come
Get
Go
Look
Make
Put
Take

Key particles
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

Up
Out
Off
On and in
Down and over
Around and about
For and with
Through and back
Into and away

Concepts
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

page 48
Time: spending time
Time: passing of time
Location
Cause and effect
Change
Success and failure
Starting and finishing
Actions and movement
Destroying and reacting to destruction
Communication

Functions
32
33
34
35
36

Describing people and places
Describing public events
Describing situations
Giving and getting information
Solving problems

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

I

37
38
39
40
41

Decisions and plans
Disagreeing
Persuading
Praising and criticising
Exclamations and warnings

Work, study and finance
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

The classroom and learning
Student life: courses and exams
Student life: reading and writing
Work: jobs and career
Work: being busy
Money: salaries, bills, payments
Money: buying and selling
Business
Telephoning

Personal life
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60

Feelings
Relationships
Relationships: problems
Secrets and conversations
Stages through life
Health
Sport
Homes and daily routines
Socialising
Food and drink

The world around US
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
Key

Weather
Travel
Driving
Technology
Computers
News
Crime
Power and authority
American and Australian phrasal verbs
New phrasal verbs
146

Mini dictionary

2

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

183

Using this book
Why was this book written!
It was written to help you improve your knowledge of phrasal verbs in English. Phrasal verbs
are verbs which have a mam verb and a particle which, together, create one meaning (e.g. a
plane takes off from the airport; an adult looks after a child). You will come across a great
many phrasal verbs when you listen to and read English, and so it is important that you learn
about their meanings and about how they are used. You can use this book either with a
teacher or for self-study.

There are more than 5,000 phrasal verbs and related noun and adjective forms in use in
English. This book focuses just on those phrasal verbs which you need to know for everyday
spoken and written communication in English, and it aims to provide the information and
practice which will help you understand and use them correctly.

How were the phrasal verbs in the book selected?
The approximately 1,000 phrasal verbs and related noun and adjective forms which are
presented in this book were all selected from those identified as significant by the
CANCODE corpus of spoken English, developed at'the University of Nottingham in
association with Cambridge University Press and the Cambridge International Corpus of
written and spoken English. The phrasal verbs selected are also to be found in the Cambridge
International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs, where additional example sentences and usage
notes will also be found. You can search this dictionary online by going to the following
website: dictionary.cambridge.org

How is the book organised?
The book has 70 two-page units. The left-hand page explains the phrasal verbs that are
presented in the unit. You will usually find an explanation of the meaning of each phrasal
verb, an example of it in use and, where appropriate, any special notes about its usage. The
right-hand page checks that you have understood the information on the left-hand page by
giving you a series of exercises that practise the material just presented. The exercises pay
particular attention to checking understanding of the phrasal verbs and how they are used, so
that you will be able to use them accurately and appropriately.
The units are organised into different sections:

First we start with important information about phrasal verbs in general (Units 1-5):
what they are, how their grammar works, and so on. This is an important training section,
and we recommend you do these units first.
After the introductory units, there are units on the most common verbs which are used to
form phrasal verbs (Units 6-12) and units on the most common particles found in phrasal
verbs (Units 13-21).
The rest of the book teaches you the phrasal verbs which are associated with particular
concepts (e.g. time), functions (e.g. giving and getting information) and topics (e.g. business,
feelings, student life).

The book also has a key to all the exercises so that you can check your answers. At the back
of this book you will find a useful Mini dictionary. This provides clear definitions of all the
phrasal verbs and related noun and adjective forms that appear in this book. The Mini
dictionary also indicates the unit number where you can find a particular phrasal verb.

4 English Phrasal Verbs in Use

How should I use this book?
It is strongly recommended that you work through Units 1-5 first so that you become
familiar with the way phrasal verbs operate and with the terminology that is used in the rest
of the book. After that, you may work on the units in any order that suits you.

What else do I need in order to work with this book?
You need a notebook or file in which you can write down the phrasal verbs that you study in
this book as well as any others that you come across elsewhere.
You also need to have access to a good dictionary. We strongly recommend the Cambridge
International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs as this gives exactly the kind of information that
you need to have about phrasal verbs. Your teacher, however, may also be able to recommend
other dictionaries that you will find useful.
So, we hope that this book will help you understand and use new or difficult phrasal verbs
that crop up (see Unit 44 - Student life: reading and writing) in your reading and listening in
English and that, by the time you finish the units, you'll be saying: 'English phrasal verbs?
Show me a new one and I'll figure out what it means in seconds!3 (see Unit 69 American
and Australian phrasal verbs).
,■

HOW TO COPY AND PASTE

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

5

Phrasal verbs: the basics

>

What are phrasal verbs?
Phrasal verbs are verbs that consist of a verb and a particle.
verb

particle

example

meaning

look

up

You can look up any new words in your
dictionary.

You can find the meaning of any new
words in your dictionary.

get

through

1 tried to phone her but 1 couldn't
get through.

1 tried to phone her but 1 couldn't get
a connection.

make

out

1 just can't make Jim out at all.

I just can't understand Jim's behaviour.

Particles are small words which you already know as prepositions or adverbs. Here are some
of the most common phrasal verb particles: about (a)round at away back down
for. in into off on out over through to up

B

What do I need to know about phrasal verbs?
First you need to know the meaning of the whole phrasal verb as a unit. The Mini dictionary
in this book will help you. For example, look means to use your eyes and up means the
opposite of down, but the phrasal verb look up can have several different meanings:
Look the word up in the dictionary, [look up = search for information in a book/computer]
I'll look you up next time I'm in London, [look up = visit someone you have not seen for a
long time] Things are looking up. [look up = improve]

Next you need to know the grammar patterns of phrasal verbs, e.g. whether the verb takes an
object. The table shows the way the grammar patterns are shown in this book and in
many dictionaries. Note that sth means something; sb means someone.
grammar pattern

comment

example

eat out

the verb is used without
an object

We were too tired to cook at home so we decided to
eat out. [eat in a restaurant]
Not:We decided to eat out a meal.-

bring back sth
or bring sth
back

the verb must have a
non-human object

This photograph brings back happy memories, [makes
me remember or think about something from the past]
Not:This photograph brings back my sister.

ask out sb or
ask sb out

the verb must have a
human object

I'd love to ask Sally out. [invite Sally to go to a place
like a cinema or a restaurant]
Not: I'd love to ask my dog out.

look after sb/sth

the object can be either
human or non-human

I'll look after the baby while you're cooking.
Will you look after my bike while I'm away?

ring sb back

the object must come
before the particle

I'll ring you back later, [phone you again]
Not: I'll -Hỷ back you.

look after sb/sth

the object must come
after the particle

Can you look after the dog while I'm away?
Not: Can you look the dog after while I'm away?

drop off sb/sth
the object can be before
or drop sb/sth off or after the particle

6

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

1 dropped off the package at her house, [delivered/left]
1 dropped the package off at her house.

Exercises
I. I

Underline the twelve phrasal verbs in these sentences.

I I sent off the order last week but the goods haven't turned up yet.
2 I came across an interesting book in the library. 1 took down the title. Here it is.
3 We asked some friends around to watch a film, but the video was playing up and it
eventually broke down.
4 I brought up this problem at the last meeting. It's really time to sort out the problem.
5 I wish he'd stop messing us about! He's put the meeting off three times and now he
wants to call it off altogether.
1.2

Match the twelve phrasal verbs from sentences 1-5 in exercise 1.1 above with their meanings
from the box below.
cause inconvenience
deal with
stop working
find
post
cancel
write
postpone
not work properly

1.3

arrive

Decide which of these sentences contain errors. Explain why they are wrong and suggest a
correct answer. Use the table in B to help you.
'

1
2
3
4
5
1.4

invite home
mention

That song you just sang brings back memories of my days at college.
She looked the children after when their mother was in hospital.
I promised to ring my brother back. He called earlier when I was busy.
We ate out a wonderful dinner last night.
It was a beautiful summer evening so I asked the cat out for a drink.

Sometimes phrasal verbs are followed by a particular preposition to make three-part verbs.
Try to learn these prepositions with the phrasal verbs. Look at these examples of three-part
verbs, then complete the sentences below with a preposition from the box. Use a dictionary
or the Mini dictionary at the back of this book if necessary.
EXAMPLES

with

1
2
3
4
5

I'm looking forward to the weekend.
She's been going out with him for six months now.
against

with

on

with

She seems to look down........................ people who are less intelligent than her.
The school decided to do away....................... the language lab as no-one was using it.
I came up....................... a serious problem when I tried to save my work onto a disk.
How can some students get away
............. doing no work and yet pass the exams?
Her son is so horrible. I don't know how she puts up...................... him.

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

7

Phrasal verbs: what they mean

L
A

The most common verbs
Here are the most common verbs that form part of phrasal verbs:

bring

break

look

make

call

pass

come

cut get

give

go

keep

knock

pick

pull put

run

set

take

turn

Units 6—12 deal with a selection of these verbs which form a large number of useful,
everyday phrasal verbs.
I B

Meanings
The basic meanings of the verbs in A refer to concrete actions (e.g. break means separate into
pieces), but when they are part of phrasal verbs, they often have abstract meanings too.
Sometimes the concrete meaning can help you guess the abstract meaning, for example,
you can look back to wave goodbye to someone as you leave in a car (concrete meaning look behind you), or you can look back òn your past life (abstract meaning - remember or
recall).
' '

c

1'

verb

concrete meaning

abstract meaning

give

1 gave my essay in yesterday, [handed it
to the teacher]

Her parents finally gave in and let her go to the
party, [agreed to something they had refused before]

get

She got on the bus. [entered]

Jim and Mary don't get on. [don't like each other
and are not friendly to each other]

come

Would you like to come round this
evening? [come to my home]

He was unconscious for three hours but
came round in hospital, [became conscious again]

Synonyms of phrasal verbs
A phrasal verb can often be replaced by a single verb with more or less the same meaning.
The single-verb synonyms are often, but not always, more formal (see Unit 5, section C).

phrasal verb

singfe-verb synonym

put off

postpone

take off

remove

turn up

arrive

less formal

more formal

Let's put off the meeting until Friday.

Let's postpone the meeting until Friday.

Please take off your shoes when you enter
the temple.

Please remove your shoes when you enter
the temple.

Everyone turned up on time for the meeting.

Everyone arrived on time for the meeting.

lf you know a single-verb synonym of a phrasal verb, write it in your vocabulary notebook, and note

B

whether or not the phrasal verb is more informal.

8

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

Exercises
2.1

Complete these sentences using verbs from the list in A opposite.

1
2
3
4
5
6

The car b........................down on the way to the airport.
The heavy snow blocked the roads and c....................... the farm off completely.
It took him a long time to g...................... over his illness.
It isn't easy to learn German but you must k...................... on trying.
If you'd like a lift to the station tomorrow, I can p...................... you up at 9 a.m.
This is a really stupid programme. Please t....................... the TV off.

2.2

In which of the sentences in exercise 2.1 above could you put the particle in a different
position?

2.3

Decide whether the phrasal verbs in these sentences are concrete or abstract in meaning,
by writing c for concrete or A for abstract in the brackets.
EXAMPLE

He looked up (C) and saw a hot-air balloon in the sky.

1 I would never go against ( ) my parents' wishes.
2 Shall I cut out ( ) this ad for the new CD player? We might want to buy one.
3 About five miles into our journey the engine Cút out ( ..) and we broke down ( )
completely. It was over an hour before the rescue service turned up ( ).
4 Do we need to dress up ( ) tonight or is it informal?
5 I shall never really appreciate what my grandparents went through ( ) during the war.
2.4

Replace the underlined verbs in these sentences with phrasal verbs made using the verbs and
particles from the boxes below. If necessary, use the Mini dictionary at the end of this book.
make

1
2
3
4
5
2.5

chase

brush

leave

up

fall

for

out

aside

out

They just ignored my complaints; it made me very angry.
I believed his story about having lost all his money. How stupid I was!
I couldn't understand what he was saying with all the noise.
Could you pursue Janet's report? She promised it last week but I haven't seen it yet.
If you are phoning from outside the country, omit the first zero in the city code.

Use more formal equivalents from the box instead of the phrasal verbs in these sentences.
Write the formal verbs in the correct form.
decline

1
2
3
4
5

issue

organise

cancel

escape

The government have put out a statement condemning the recent protests.
The union accepted the new pay deal and called off the strike.
The number of people not owning a TV set nowadays has gone down dramatically.
There was a disturbance in Blackmoor Prison yesterday and three prisoners got away.
Could you see to lunch for our visitors? There will be four of them.

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

9

Particles in phrasal verbs
This unit looks at the role of particles in phrasal verbs. A particle is either a preposition
(e.g. from, to, with) or an adverb (e.g. out, up, about). You can create phrasal verbs by
adding different particles to a basic verb.

What do particles mean?
In some phrasal verbs the particle has a clear basic meaning. Look at the examples of
different particles used with the verb invite. On the right, in speech bubbles, you can see
what the original speaker probably said.

Jack invited me out.

■=^7 Let's go out

Rosie invited me in.
Jill invited me over.

Please come in!
Come to our

Paul invited me round.

Come to my house
for dinner or a drink.

Mark invited me up.

Come upstairs to

Susie invited me along.

Come with us!

Bill invited me back.

Come back home with me.

What other meanings can particles have?
Most particles convey a number of different senses. For example, over can have various
meanings, including:
(a) changing position, e.g. in fall over [fall to the ground] or move over [change the place
where you are sitting or standing to make room for someone else].
(b) an idea of thoroughness, e.g. in read over [read throughly] or talk over [discuss
something thoroughly before making a decision].
The meanings of particles are looked at in more detail in Units 13-21.

Where does the particle go?
With verbs that have an object:

•

Sometimes the particle has to go before the object of the verb,
e.g. I'm looking for my keys (not: I'm looking my keys for).

•

Sometimes it must go after the object,
e.g. I have a lot of work on (not: I have on a lot of work).

•

Sometimes the particle may go either before or after the object,
e.g. The thunder woke up the children or The thunder woke the children up.

Note that if the object is a pronoun (e.g. him, them), then the particle must go after it,
e.g. The thunder woke them up (not: i he thunder woke -J-0 them) ■

10

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

Exercises
3.1

Look at section A and then answer the questions about these sentences.
1 My brothers were going to the circus and they asked me along.
Did the speaker go the circus on her own, with her brothers or do we not know for sure?
2 When I took Di a birthday present, she asked me in but I had to get to my lecture.
Did the speaker go into Di's house?
3 When I saw Mark on the balcony, he asked me up.
Who was in a higher position, Mark or the speaker?
4 When the Richardsons asked me back after the concert I was happy to accept.
Where did the speaker go after the concert?
5 My cousin has asked me to go over to his flat this evening.
What word could replace over with no change in meaning?

3.2

Look at B opposite. Are the phrasal verbs underlined in the sentences below examples of the
(a) or the (b) meanings of overĩ
1
2
3
4

3.3

Think it over before you make up your mind what to do next.
You may turn over the page now and read the exam questions.
It's raining too hard to drive. Pull over to the edge of the road.
Look over your answers before the end of the exam.

Look at c opposite. Then read these definitions and decide whether the sentences below are
correct or incorrect. If necessary, correct them.
have on has, having, had

have sth on to have an arrangement to do
something (never in continuous tenses)
have sb on to persuade someone that
something is true when it is not, usually as
a joke
have on sth or have sth on if you have
clothes or shoes on, you are wearing them
(never in continuous tenses; never passive)
nA V* WMF

“T - IH> TiW II f

■ -T

1 I have on three important meetings tomorrow.
2 John has an amazing tie on.
3 Sue was only having on her sisters when she told them she was planning to become a
model.
4 I'm having a lot of work on today.
5 I don't believe you! I'm sure you're having me on.
6 Ruth was wearing her new jeans this morning and she had on them yesterday.
3.4

Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.
to / you / for / make room / Can I move I over I your sister?
finished / she / over. I Harry / it / to read / When / her essay, / asked / Jill
his house / tomorrow. / Jim / back I me / has invited / to
when he / Paul / his driving test. I his parents / he'd failed / only having / was /
told them / on
5 tomorrow? / What / you / on / do / have
6 the light / in her bedroom, / was / she / at home. / Sue / had /1 knew / on / so

1
2
3
4

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

II

Nouns and adjectives based on
phrasal verbs
Nouns made from verb + particle
In English we often create nouns from verbs, e.g. to invite I an invitation. In the same way it
is sometimes possible to create a noun from a phrasal verb. Look at these examples.

I got ripped off when I phoned that 0877 number [informal: was charged too much].
The call cost five pounds a minute!
Yes, those numbers are a big rip-off.

Tom:

Lily:

Mona: Her son dropped out of college last year, [gave up his course]
Ed:
Mm. There were a lot of dropouts that year. I wonder why?
Mick:
Pat:

Somebody broke in last night and stole a computer from the school, [entered by
force to steal something]
Really? That's the second break-in this year!

Rufes for the use of verb + particle noun forms
• The plural is formed by adding -s to the particle, not the verb, e.g. break-ins,
dropouts, rip-offs (not: breaks in, dropsout-,' rips off)
An exception is goings-on [strange or amusing events], which is always plural.
There was a lot of gossip about the goings-on at the office party.

• Verb + particle noun forms are sometimes written with a hyphen, e.g. break-in,
check-in, cover-up; and sometimes without, e.g. dropout, checkout, crackdown.
Nouns with -out and -over are usually written as one word, e.g. dropout, lookout,
checkout, handout, changeover, leftovers.
Nouns with -in, -up and less common particles usually have a hyphen, e.g. lie-in,
mix-up, put-down, run-through.
• In pronunciation, the stress is on the verb, not the particle.
a BREAK-in at the office
college DROPouts

Nouns made from particle + verb
Some phrasal verbs have noun forms where the particle is first. The stress in pronunciation is
usually on the particle.
phrasal verb

particle + verb noun

example

set out

outset

1 knew from the outset that there would be problems, [beginning]

fall down

downfall

The economic crisis caused the downfall of the government,
[sudden failure or end]

look on

onlooker

Crowds of onlookers watched as the police arrested the man.
[someone who watches an event but doesn't take part]

Adjectives
There are also adjectives which are based on phrasal verbs. Make a note of any you meet,
e.g. a broken-down vehicle [vehicle whose engine had stopped working] a breakdown truck
[truck which helps drivers who have broken down] blocked-up drains [drains where the
water cannot flow properly]

12

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

Exercises
4.1

Complete the following table. If a noun form does not exist, write 'none' in the table. Use a
dictionary if necessary. Decide whether the noun is written with a hyphen or as one word.

phrasal verb

verb + particle noun

show off

show-off

warm up

hold on

hide out
turn over
tear down

4.2

Circle the correct noun form in these sentences. Use a dictionary if necessary.

Efl

1 There was a big pile-up / up-pile on the motorway involving five vehicles.
2 The government has announced a series of báckduts / cutbacks in funding for universities
in order to save money.
3 When the higher taxes were announced there was a public outcry / cryout.
4 Several standerbys / bystanders did nothing while the thieves robbed him of his cash.
5 The new drug marks a throughbreak / breakthrough in the treatment of cancer.

4.3

Complete these sentences with adjective forms of phrasal verbs from the box below.
throwaway

1
2
3
4
5

outgoing

bygone

getaway

off-putting

The robbers abandoned their................................... car in a car park near the airport.
i find his manner very.................................... He's so unfriendly.
They decided to use.................................. paper plates and cups for their party.
Let's invite Sally - she's very................................... and loves parties.
The pictures of the steam trains were like something from a....................................era.

4.4

Write down the infinitive form of the phrasal verbs from which the adjectives in exercise 4.3
above are formed.

4.5

Match the sentences on the left with a suitable response on the right.

1 I was looking for a way to turn off
the photocopier.
2 Have you heard about the scandal in the office?
3 The economy is not doing so well these days.
4 A database can organise all the information you
type into it.
5 You have to consider how much you spend
each month.

I know, I need to watch my outgoings.

Yes, but I don't understand the input.
There's the on/off switch.
Yes, there's been a downturn.

Mm, amazing goings-on!

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

I3

Metaphor and register
Multiple meanings of phrasal verbs
A phrasal verb can have a number of different meanings, e.g.
He got on the bus.
[entered the bus]

get on

Jim and Ian get on really well,
[like each other and are friendly]

Shh! I'm trying to get on with my work,
[continue doing my work]

Often there is no direct connection between the various meanings and you just have to learn
each different meaning of the phrasal verb. The best way to do this is by trying to remember
a sentence using the phrasal verb.

Literal and metaphorical meaning
Sometimes the basic meanings of a phrasal verb and the additional meanings are clearly linked.
This is because some additional meanings are based On a metaphor or image which has a direct
connection with its literal or basic meaning. A metaphor is a way of expressing something by
comparing it with something else that has similar characteristics. Here is an example:
LITERAL (basic) meaning

blow up a balloon
inflate or fill with air

metaphorical meaning

blow up a building —► someone blows up
make it explode
suddenly becomes very angry

Sometimes a phrasal verb only exists as a phrasal verb in the metaphorical meaning, but you
can guess what it means from the meaning of the basic verb without the particle. For example:

These statistics look strange. Have we slipped up somewhere?
Here slip up [make a mistake] clearly comes from slip [fall usually because the floor is wet or
the ground is icy].

c

Register
Another important aspect of phrasal verbs is register. Phrasal verbs are typical of spoken
English or informal writing, e.g. letters to friends and articles in popular journalism. There
are often one-word equivalents, or synonyms, for use in a more formal spoken or written
style. For example: miss out a question or omit a question. See section 2C in Unit 2 for other
examples.
As with all English vocabulary, there are some different uses from one geographical area to
another. For example, British, American and Australian users of English all talk of clearing
up a room [putting things away tidily], but only British and Australian speakers would use
tidy up as a synonym.

See Unit 69 for more examples of how phrasal verbs differ in North America and Australia.

14

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

Exercises
5.1

Match the different meanings a-f of take in with the appropriate sentences 1-6 below.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

make smaller
allow in through a hole
deceive
give a bed to
include
understand the meaning or importance

1 Because so many passengers were stranded at the airport, some local families offered to
take them in overnight.
2 The news is so shocking - I still can't take it in.
3 The excursion will take in two of the most beautiful castles in the region.
4 Marie has lost weight - she's going to have to take in a lot of her clothes.
5 Rob was totally dishonest but he was so charming that I was taken in by him.
6 We'd better return to the shore at once - the boat seems to be taking in water.

ỉ.

5.2

Ct

These pairs of sentences show phrasal verbs which can be used in both literal and
metaphorical ways. Explain the two meanings and the coilnection between them.

1 a) I stepped in a puddle of water and my feet are soaking now.
b) She stepped in to stop the argument from becoming more serious.
2 a) This programme is rubbish. I wish you'd switch off the TV.
b) The lecture was so boring that I switched off.
3 a) There's a hole in my bag. Ĩ think my pen must have dropped out.
b) He dropped out of college and became a mechanic.
4 a) We tied the boxes down on the roof of the car.
b) Mark dreams of travelling but he feels tied down by his family and work
responsibilities.
5.3

Use your knowledge of the basic verb in the underlined phrasal verbs as well as the context
of the sentence in order to work out the meanings of the phrasal verbs.

1 What are you driving at? I wish you would say exactly what you mean!
2 The teacher did all she could to drum the vocabulary into her pupils before the exam.
3 The old education system used to cream off the best pupils and teach them in separate
schools.
4 The noise of the children's music completely drowned out the television.
5.4

Write a one-word formal equivalent for each of the underlined phrasal verbs.
As the rain didn't let up, the football game was called off. So the team got down to
discussing its strategy for the next match instead. We didn't get out of the clubhouse until the
cleaners turned up in the evening.
If you encounter a phrasal verb that you thought you knew but it does not seem to make sense, use
other clues in the context to work out what the meaning might be. It may be quite different from the
meaning that you already knew.

English Phrasal Verbs in Use

15

Come
Come expressing an idea of movement or change of state
phrasal verb

meaning

example

come along

arrive at a place

Not many people bought tickets for the
concert in advance, but quite a few came
along and bought tickets at the door.

come apart

separate into pieces

The antique picture frame just came
apart in my hands.

come around or
come round

...