Verb Phrase B

back down	stop defending your opinion in a debate	Jane never backs down. She always wins arguments.
back out	not keep (a promise, agreement,deal)	Sam backed out at the last second.
back out of +	not keep (a promise, agreement, deal)	Sam backed out of the agreement at the last second.
back * up +	give support	You need examples to back up your opinion.
back up	move backwards, reverse	Could you back up a little so I can open this drawer.
bawl * out	criticize, reprimand (inf.)	She bawled him out for arriving late.
bear down on +	bite	The soldier had to bear down on the leather strap while the doctor removed a bullet from the soldier's arm.
bear down on +	take strong measures against	The U.S.A. is bearing down on drug traffickers.
bear on +	have to do with	This information may bear on this case.
bear up	withstand	I didn't think he would bear up so well in that situation.
bear up under +	withstand	How did he bear up under such extreme pressure.
bear with +	be patient	Please bear with me while I fill out the paperwork.
blow in	visit unexpectedly (inf.)	My cousin blew in unexpectedly with his entire family.
blow over	pass without creating a problem	All this negative publicity will blow over in a couple of weeks.
blow * up +	make explode;destroy using explosives	The terrorists blew the bridge up.
blow up	explode	The bomb blew up before they could defuse it.
blow up	suddenly become very angry	When Joan heard the news, she blew up and rushed out of the room.
break * down +	analyze in detail	We need to break this problem down in order to solve.
break down	stop working properly	The truck broke down in the desert.
break down	become mentally ill	She broke down after her husband died.
break * in +	wear or use something new until it is comfortable	I need to break these shoes in before I go hiking.
break in	interrupt	While we were discussing the situation, Terri broke in to give her opinion.
break in	enter a place unlawfully	The burglar broke in between midnight and 3 AM.
break in on +	interrupt (a conversation)	Jane broke in on the conversation and told us to get back to work.
break into +	enter a house unlawfully	The burglar broke into the house between midnight and 3 AM.
break into +	interrupt (a conversation)	Jane broke into the conversation and told us what she knew.
break * off +	end something	Sally broke her engagement to John off.
break out	appear violently	Violent protests broke out in response to the military coup.
break out +	use something extravagant for celebration	He broke out the champagne to celebrate his promotion.
break out  of +	escape	The murderer broke out of the prison.
break * up +	break into pieces	I broke the cracker up into pieces and put it in the soup.
break * up +	disperse (a crowd), stop (a fight)	The police broke the demonstration up before it got out of control.
break up	end a relationship	Sam and Diane broke up again. What a rocky relationship.
bring * about +	cause to happen	Democracy brought about great change in the lives of the people.
bring * along +	bring with	When we go to the forest, bring your wildlife guide along.
bring * around	change someone's mind, convince someone	She doesn't want to go, but we'll eventually bring her around.
bring * away	learn or gain (from an experience)	My trip across the Sahara was difficult, but I brought a new appreciation for life away from the experience.
bring * off +	succeed at something difficult or unexpected	You robbed the bank! I can't believe you brought that off.
bring * on +	cause something	I can't believe she got so angry. What brought that on?
bring * out +	highlight, stress	Your new shirt brings out the color of your eyes.
bring * over +	bring to someone's house	When you visit me, why don't you bring over your son.
bring * to	revive consciousness	We used smelling salts to bring her to after she fainted.
bring * up +	mention	I didn't want to bring up the fact that she was unemployed.
bring * up +	raise ( a child)	Sam was brought up in South Carolina.
brush * off +	ignore something or someone (inf.)	Mary brushed her ex-boyfriend off at the party.
burn * down +	destroy by setting fire to	The children burned the house down while playing with matches.
burn down	burn until completely gone (building)	Two buildings burnt down in the fire.
burn up	be hot	I am burning up in here - open the window.
burn up	consume by fire	The papers were burned up in the fire.
burn * up +	destroy by fire	He burnt up the files.
buy * out +	buy the shares of a company or the shares the other person owns of a business	Pacific Inc. was bought out by a company from Oregon.
buy * up +	purchase the entire supply of something	We bought up all the beer in the store.