C.Phrasal verbs: grammar and style

Grammar: intransitive verbs

Some phrasal verbs are intransitive and do not need a direct object.

• The children are growing up. (= getting older and more mature)


• The doctor told me to lie down on the bed.


• Don't wait out there. Please come in. (= enter)


• I'm going to stay in (= stay at home) this evening.

With these verbs, you cannot put another word between the verb and adverb.

Grammar: transitive verbs

But many phrasal verbs are transitive and do need a direct object.

With some of these, you can put the object between the verb and adverb:

Put on your shoes / Turn on the TV / Put your shoes on /        Turn the TV on /

If the object is a pronoun, it must go between verb and adverb.

Put them on / [not Put on them]   Turn it on / [not Turn on it]

Note: A dictionary will show you if you can put a word between the verb and adverb:

Style: formal or informal

Some phrasal verbs can be used equally in written or spoken English. Sometimes this is because there is no other easy way to express the meaning of the phrasal verb.

• I always wake up early, even at weekends.


• The car broke down (= went wrong; stopped working) on the motorway.


• The plane couldn't take off because of bad weather.


• Thieves broke into (= entered by force and illegally) the house and took money, credit cards and all my jewellery.

Informal phrasal verbs

But most phrasal verbs are informal and are more common in spoken English.

In written English there is often a more formal word with the same meaning.

• We had to make up a story. (= invent/create from our imagination)


• I can usually get by on about £200 a week. (= manage)


• You can leave out question 7. (= omit, i.e. you don't need to do question 7)


• They've got a problem and they asked me to sort it out. (= resolve (it) / find a solution / do something about it)

B. Phrasal verbs: form and meaning

Formation

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with an adverb or preposition, and occasionally with an adverb and preposition.

• The price of petrol may go up (= increase) again next week.


• He fell over (= fell to the ground) when he was running for the bus.


• She's promised to find out (= learn/discover) the name of that new hotel.


• Who is going to look after (= take care of) the children when she goes into hospital?


• If you don't understand the meaning, you can look it up (= find the meaning in a book - in this case a dictionary).

• He doesn't get on with (= have a good relationship with) his parents, (verb + adv + prep)

Meaning

Sometimes the meaning of a phrasal verb is very similar to the base verb, and the adverb just emphasises the meaning of the base verb,

• stand up


• wake up


• save up


• hurry up


• sit down


• lie down


• send off (e.g. a letter).

On other occasions, the adverb adds the idea of completing the action of the verb

• drink up (= finish your drink)


• eat up (= finish eating)


• finish off.

But more often, the meaning of a phrasal verb is very different from the base verb

• go up doesn't mean the same as go


• look after is different from look; and look after is also quite different from look up.
  

An adverb or preposition can therefore change the meaning of a verb a great deal.

Here are some more examples of this type of phrasal verb.

• It took her a long time to get over (= get better / recover from) her illness.


• He told me to carry on (= continue) as far as the traffic lights.


• I persuaded my wife to give up (= stop ) smoking.


• I can't make any sandwiches because we've run out of bread. (= the bread is finished / all used, so we have no bread)


• In the end my next-door neighbour had to come and put out (= extinguish/stop) the fire.

Multiple meaning

Many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning, so you must be careful when you see a phrasal verb you think you know, or look up the meaning in a dictionary.

In the examples marked *, the phrasal verb is much more natural than the explanation in brackets.

• It was hot so I decided to *take off (= remove) my jacket.


• I am always nervous when the plane * takes off (= leaves the ground).


• I don't think I'll get through (= finish) this report before five o'clock. I think she'll get through (= pass) the exam.


• I "picked up the rubbish (= took it from the ground or a low place) and put it in the bin.

• I had to go to the shop to pick up (= collect) my photos.


• My alarm clock didn't go off (= ring) this morning.


• The bomb could go off (= explode) at any minute.


• The fish will *go off (= go bad) if you don't put it in the fridge.

Verb Phrase Z

zero in on +	discover, pinpoint	I think I have zeroed in on what has been causing the problem.
zip around +	move quickly from place to place	I zipped around town after work today.
zone out	stop paying attention	He zoned out during class.
zonk out	fall asleep	Jill was so exhausted after taking the TOEFL test that she zonked out before dinner.
zoom in	focus	You need a telephoto lens to zoom in.
zoom in on +	focus on something, pinpoint	She zoomed in on his face while taking the picture.

Verb Phrase Y

yak on	to continue talking in an annoying way ("on" can be repeated for emphasis)	He just yakked on and on and on.
yak on about +	to continue talking in an annoying way about something ("on" can be repeated for emphasis)	She just yakked on and on about her husband's new job.
yammer on	to talk in an annoying way or complain ("on" can be repeated for emphasis)	They yammered on and on and on.
yammer on about +	to talk in an annoying way about something or complain about ("on" can be repeated for emphasis)	He just yammered on and on about how horrible the waiter was.

Verb Phrase V

veer away from +

stay away from, avoid

I veer away from the same old summer blockbuster films.

Verb Phrase U

use * up

use all of something

I used up all of the soap, so we need to buy some more.

Verb Phrase W

wait on +	serve, service (a table)	Each waitress waits on three different tables in the restaurant.
wait up	not sleep because you are waiting for something or someone	Don't wait up.
wait up for +	not sleep because you are waiting for someone or something	Let's wait up for Mary to see how her date went.
wake * up +	awaken someone	The car alarm woke me up at 6:00 in the morning.
wake up	awaken	Wake up. It's time to get ready for work.
wash up	clean oneself	Make sure you wash up before dinner.
wash * up +	clean	If we work together, we can wash the kitchen up in a few minutes.
watch out	be careful	Watch out - there's a rattlesnake!
watch out for +	be careful of	Watch out for snakes while you are hiking in the desert.
wear off	disappear after a period of time	The affects of the medicine will wear off after a few hours.
wear * out	use until something is not useable anymore	If you wear the same shoes everyday, you'll wear them out.
wear * out	cause to be very tired	Her three kids wore me out.
wind up +	finish (inf.)	If he doesn't get his act together, he is going to wind up in jail.
wind * up +	tighten the spring of a watch or similar machine	He wound up the toy dog and set it on the floor.
wind * up +	cause an animal or a child to behave wildly	The kids always get wound up when Uncle Henry comes over.
wipe * out +	massacre or destroy	The tidal wave wiped out the small fishing village.
wipe * out	cause to be very tired	After surfing all day, I was completely wiped out.
work * out +	solve	I hope you two can work out your problems.
work out	exercise	I work out three times a week at the fitness center.
work out	be successful	I am glad your new catering business is working out.
write * down +	record	Write down the directions so you don't forget them.
write * out +	write down every word or letter	He wrote out the lyrics so I could understand what the singer was saying.
write * up +	prepare a report	He wrote up a business proposal in order to get a loan.

Verb Phrase T

take after +	resemble a parent or relative	I take after my father. Who do you take after?
take * away +	remove, seize or capture	The soldiers took the captives away.
take * back +	retract something you said	I demand that you take back what you said.
take * back +	return an item to a store	The dress my grandmother bought for me didn't fit, so I took it back and exchanged it for a pair of pants.
take * down +	write down what is said	Would you mind taking down my messages while I am on vacation?
take * down +	remove (from a high place)	The city government made the shop take down their bright, neon sign.
take * for	consider, view as	Do you take me for an idiot?
take * in +	learning	Are you taking in all of these phrasal verbs?
take * in +	deceive a person	He was taken in by the con artist.
take * in +	make smaller when sewing	I lost weight, so I need to take some of my skirts to the tailor to have them taken in.
take * off	when a plane or rocket leaves the ground	My stomach felt funny when the plane took off.
take * off +	remove	In many cultures, it is appropriate to take off your shoes when entering a house.
take * off +	leave work or school for a period of time	I was sick last week, so I took a few days off of work.
take off	leave	We took off after dinner.
take on +	accept (responsibilities, work)	She has taken on too much responsibility in this project.
take * over +	take control of	Who is going to take over the family business when Aretha's father dies?
take over	take control of	If the President is assassinated, the Vice-president will take over.
take * out +	accompany a person on a date (for dinner, the movies)	I can't meet you tonight because I am taking Fernanda out to dinner.
take * up +	begin a new hobby	Have you taken up any new hobbies since you moved here?
take * up +	discuss (at a later date)	We should take this issue up in the meeting tomorrow.
take * up +	shorten a garment when sewing	This dress is too long, I am going to take it up.
take up +	occupy space	This couch takes up too much space in the living room.
talk back	respond in an impolite way to an adult	Don't talk back!
talk back to +	respond in an impolite way to an adult	Children should not talk back to their parents.
talk * over +	discuss	I hope my parents talk their relationship problems over before they get divorced.
tear * down +	destroy	The county decided to tear down the dilapidated school and build a new one.
tear * up +	tear or rip into small pieces	I always tear up my personal papers before I throw them out.
tell * off +	criticize a person severely, reprimand (inf.)	Carolina told me off when she found out I was gossiping about her date with Martin.
tell on +	report a crime to the police or bad behavior to a parent	Every time I did something wrong when I was a child, my sister would tell on me.
think * over +	consider	Think over the offer before you sign the contract.
think * through +	consider carefully	You need to think this through carefully before you make a decision.
think * up +	create or invent a false story	I need to think up an excuse for not going to her party.
throw * away +	discard	Don't throw away those bottles; we can recycle them.
throw * out +	discard	I asked him not to throw out the Sunday newspaper because I wanted to save an article.
throw * out +	remove by force from (a room, school, a house, etc.)	Mary threw out her roommate because she stopped paying rent.
throw up	vomit	If you drink too much alcohol, you might throw up.
tie * up +	tie securely	When we dock, make sure you tie the boat up.
tire * out	cause someone to be very tired	Speaking English all day tires me out.
touch on +	talk about for a short time	The presidential candidates touched on the subject of health care during the debates.
touch * up	make the final improvements	We didn't paint the whole kitchen, we just touched up the cabinets.
try * on +	put on to make sure a piece of clothing fits	Try on the pants before you buy them.
try * out	test	Try out this massage chair - it feels great!
turn * away	refuse to deal with or give service	They turned us away at the border because we didn't have visas.
turn * around	change or reverse direction	Turn the car around and go back home.
turn * down +	refuse an offer; reject an application	She turned down the new job in New York, because she didn't want to move.
turn * down +	lower the volume or intensity of a TV, radio, or other machine	I'm studying! Please turn down the TV.
turn * in	submit	You need to turn your essays in next week.
turn in	go to bed (inf.)	It's getting late. I think it is about time to turn in.
turn into +	become something different, transform	When she kissed the frog, it turned into a handsome prince.
turn * off +	stop the function of (a stove, a water faucet, a car, etc.)	Don't forget to turn off the iron before you leave the house.
turn on +	attack unexpectedly	The pit bull suddenly turned on the small child.
turn * on	cause to be excited sexually	Scientists have discovered that the smell of cinnamon turns many people on.
turn * on +	start the function of a TV, a radio, a machine	Turn on the TV. The baseball game starts in a few minutes.
turn * out	produce	The weavers can turn out two or three rugs a month.
turn * out	switch off a light	Turn out the light before you go to bed.
turn out	audience members to a function	Over 100,000 people turned out for the concert.
turn out	end up being	She turned out to be the murderer after all.
turn * over	give to authorities (said of evidence or stolen / lost property)	They turned the wallet over to the police.
turn * up +	increase the volume or intensity of a TV, radio, or other machine	Turn up the TV. I can't hear what they're saying.
turn up	find unexpectedly	My keys turned up in the bedroom.

Verb Phrase S

save * up +	accumulate (money)	I hope I will be able to save up enough money to go to school.
see about +	arrange or consider something	My dad said he was going to see about buying me a car.
see * off	say good-bye to someone at the beginning of their trip (at the airport, train station)	Did you see your sister off at the train station?
see to +	make sure something happens, arrange	I'll see to it that Mr. Ramirez gets your message.
see * through	finish something despite difficulties	Are you going to be able to see your studies through now that you have a baby?
sell * out	tell on someone	My partner in crime sold me out for a reduced jail sentence.
set * up	arrange a relationship	My mom set me up with her friend's son.
set * up	falsely incriminate a person	I don't think he killed those men. Somebody set him up.
set up +	arrange (an appointment, a meeting,etc.)	I set up an appointment with my doctor at 3:30 this afternoon.
settle on +	make a decision after a period of time	I settled on the job at the oil company.
settle up	pay one's debts	We need to settle up before you move.
show * off +	show to everybody with a lot of pride	He always shows off his new things.
show off	boast, draw attention to oneself	Young boys show off in order to impress girls.
show * up	make someone seem inferior	He's always trying to show up his co-workers in order to get ahead.
show up	arrive without previous notice	I hadn't seen my cousin for years, and all of a sudden, he showed up at my workplace yesterday!
shut * off	stop from functioning	If you don't pay your electric bill, your power is going to get shut off.
shut * up	make quiet	Would someone shut him up! He's talking so loudly that we're going to get in trouble.
slow * down +	make move more slowly	Because Mary's level in English is lower than the rest of the students, she slows the class down.
slow * up +	make move more slowly	Because Mary's level in English is lower than the rest of the students, she slows the class up.
spell * out +	to explain something in a detailed way so that the meaning is clearly understood	He's so stupid that you have to spell everything our for him.
stand by	wait	I need you to stand by and answer the phone when my broker calls.
stand for +	represent	SCUBA stands for "self contained underwater breathing apparatus."
stand for +	tolerate	I won't stand for people criticizing me.
stand out	be very noticeable	Soledad is so beautiful! She really stands out in a crowd.
stand * up	not arrive to a date or an appointment (inf.)	I arranged to meet Joe at the library at 8:00, but he stood me up. I hope he has a good excuse.
stand up for +	defend (something one believes in)	Every individual must stand up for what they believe in.
stand up to +	defend oneself against someone or something	I think you should stand up to your older brother and tell him to stop pushing you around.
stay over	spend the night at a person's house	It takes you so long to take the bus home, so why don't you just stay over?
stick it to +	severely criticize a person (inf.)	My boss really stuck it to me when I arrived late to work for the third time this week.
stick to +	persevere, keep trying	Even though English is a hard language to master, you must stick to it!
stick up for +	defend oneself or opinions	Joseph joined the army because he believes he must stick up for his country.

Verb Phrase R

read up on +	research a topic for a reason	I need to read up on the company before I go on the job interview.
ring * up	telephone	Jack rung me up last night at 3:00 in the morning.
rule * out +	eliminate	I wouldn't rule out the possibility of moving to another country if I get a good job offer.
run across +	find or meet unexpectedly	I ran across some old photos while I was cleaning my house.
run against +	compete in an election	Gore ran against Bush in the 2000 elections in the U.S.A.
run away	leave home permanently before you are a legal adult	The child ran away because her parents beat her.
run away from +	escape from	The child ran away from its parents.
run * down	trace	Have you run down those phone numbers I asked for last week?
run * down	criticize	My boss runs everyone down.
run * down	hit with a car	My dog was run down by a bus.
run down	loose power, be very tired	You need to wind your watch so it doesn't run down.
run for +	campaign for a government position	Gore is running for president of the U.S.A.
run into +	meet unexpectedly	I ran into my English teacher at the movies last night. She's so nice!
run * off +	make leave	The new government is trying to run the drug traffickers off.
run * off	reproduce (photocopies)	Would you mind running off 10 copies of this document for me?
run off	leave quickly	Why did you run off after the party?
run off	waste water	You shouldn't swim where the sewage runs off into the ocean.
run out of +	not have any more of something	We ran out of milk this morning, so we need to go to the store.

Verb Phrase Q

quiet * down +

be quiet, or cause to be quiet

The neighbors told us to quiet down last night or they would call the police.

Verb Phrase P

pan out	be successful, turn out well	The trip to Vegas didn't pan out.
pass away	die	After battling cancer for several years, he finally passed away at the age of 87.
pass * off +	try to convince someone that something is real	He tried to pass the fake watch off as a real Rolex.
pass * on +	transmit	Please pass this message on to your co-workers.
pass on +	not accept (an invitation to eat or do something)	Jennifer passed on the invitation to join us for dinner.
pass on	die	I am afraid Professor Johnson has passed on.
pass * out +	distribute	We need to pass out these flyers for the concert tomorrow.
pass out	become unconscious	He passed out because the room was too hot.
pass * up +	not take advantage (of an opportunity)	I can't believe she passed up the opportunity to study in Rome.
pay * back +	repay	If I loan you money, will you pay me back.
pay * off +	complete payment on a debt	It took me ten years to pay off my credit card debt.
pay * off +	to bribe	Don't try to pay the police officer off if you get pulled over for speeding.
pick on +	to tease, bully	She keeps picking on me! Make her stop.
pick * out +	choose	Diane picked out a lovely dress for the dance.
pick * up +	to lift an object with the hands	Keep your back straight when you lift the TV up.
pick * up +	come and get someone in a car	What time are you going to pick me up.
pick * up +	learn something without effort	It's possible to pick up enough English in two weeks to get by on your trip to Los Angeles.
pick * up +	try to initiate a relationship with someone (often in a bar)	Some weird guy tried to pick Patricia up at the bar.
pick up	grow, increase (inf.)	Business is really picking up this quarter.
play * down +	make less important (inf.)	The President played down his affair with the intern.
play * up	highlight something (inf.)	She played up her part in the new movie, but it was actually a very small role.
play up to +	flatter someone for your personal advantage	She has been playing up to the boss because she wants a promotion.
point * out +	indicate	I'd like to point out that figures in column two might be outdated.
pull down	earn	He pulls down about $300,000 a year.
pull in	park (a vehicle)	Mark pulled in too quickly and crashed into the wall.
pull out	depart (a vehicle)	Our train pulls out at 8:00, so don't be late.
pull through	barely survive	I didn't think she was going to make it, but she pulled through in the end.
put * across +	communicate (an idea or suggestion) clearly so that it is understood	I thought Ms. Smith put her ideas across rather clearly in the meeting.
put * away +	return to the proper place of storage	I told you kids to put your toys away.
put * down +	insult, say bad things about	She always puts down people who don't share her opinions.
put in +	officially submit a request (in the armed forces or public services)	He put in for a transfer to the division in Los Angeles.
put * off +	postpone	Don't put off your work - do it now!
put * on +	wear	Make sure you put on a sweater before you go outside.
put * on +	deceive	I didn't believe a thing he said. I think he was putting me on.
put * out +	extinguish (a fire)	Don't use water to put out a grease fire.
put * out +	inconvenience someone	I don't want to put you out, but could you pick me up at the airport.
put out +	spend (usually used with unreasonably large sums of money)	I can't put out that much money each month.
put * up	have a guest stay in your house for a short time	Can you put me up while I'm in town.
put up with +	tolerate	Sandy will not put up with smoking in her house.

Verb Phrase O

occur to +	pop into one's mind, come to one's mind	It didn't occur to us that we had left the iron on.
open up	share feelings	I'm  glad that John feels comfortable enough around me to open up.
out to + verb	try to	She is out to get revenge now that her husband left her for another woman.

Verb Phrase N

name * after +	name a child using another family member's name	I was named after my grandfather.
nod off	fall asleep	The movie was so boring that I nodded off before it was finished.
nose around +	sneak around	I hate it when my mother noses around my room.

Verb Phrase M

make * out	decipher	I can't make out your handwriting. What does this say?
make * out +	write a check or other document	Who should I make this check out to?
make out	succeed	He really made out in the stock market last year.
make out	progress	How is your son making out in his new job?
make out	kiss passionately	I saw Benno and Isabelle making out in the movie theater last night!
make out with +	kiss someone passionately	Did you make out with Sally?
make * over	do again	The teacher made me do my homework over.
make * up +	invent ( a story)	Don't believe anything she says. She always makes things up.
make * up +	complete what was missed	Fortunately, my professor let me make up the exam I missed yesterday.
make * up +	put on cosmetics	I takes me 10 minutes to make my face up.
make up	reconcile	You two have been friends for so long that I think you should make up.
make up for +	compensate for	Allen made up for being late by getting me flowers.
mix * up +	confuse	I sometimes mix the verb tenses up.
mix * up +	blend	We need to mix up these different kinds of nuts before we put them in a bowl.
mix * up +	make lively (a party)	Let's mix up this party with a little disco music.

Verb Phrase L

lay  away +	save for the future	Why don't you lay away your wedding outfit?
lay down +	establish (laws, rules)	Lori lays down the law in her class. English only!
lay in on +	scold or criticize severely	My mom really laid in on me when I got home at 4:00 in the morning last night.
lay into +	scold or criticize severely	I saw Reto's mom lay into him when he came home late last night.
lay * off +	suspend someone from a job (during a slow period)	The company was losing money, so they had to lay off 100 workers.
lay * out +	arrange	Why don't we lay the pieces of the table out before we put it together.
leave * out +	not include, omit	Why did your parents leave you out of their vacation plans?
let * down	disappoint	I felt let down when I didn't receive a birthday card from my sister.
let * down	lengthen (pants in sewing)	My uncle is a tailor, so he can let your pants down.
let * out	release	I am happy my brother was let out of prison early.
let * out	make bigger (in sewing)	I need to let out this skirt because I have gained weight.
let up	weaken in intensity	I told her NO a thousand times, but she won't let up.
lie down	rest, recline	I need to lie down before we go out tonight.
lie down on +	rest, recline ( on a couch, bed)	I'm going to lie down on the sofa for a while.
lie with +	be decided by	Whether or not you can go to the party lies with your father.
light * up +	illuminate	Let's get some candles to light this room up.
light up +	to smoke	Do you have to light up another cigarette? I thought you were trying to cut down.
live * down +	live in a way that a shameful or embarrassing event is forgotten	Jose will never live down singing that song at the karaoke bar.
live on +	survive from	I could live on bread and cheese.
live up to +	keep a standard	It would be hard to live up to her parent's expectations.  They are so demanding.
look after +	take care of (a child, a house, a pet)	When my sister goes on vacation, I look after her dog.
look back on +	to remember nostalgically	When I look back on my childhood, I often feel angry.
look down on +	see as inferior	She's so conceited. She looks down on everybody else.
look for +	to seek or search for	I'm looking for my keys. Have you seen them?
look forward to +	anticipate with pleasure	I am looking forward to traveling to New York next year.
look into +	investigate	The police are looking into the murder.
look on	observe as a spectator	Everybody just looked on as the two men fought.
look out	be careful, pay attention, heed a certain danger	Look out, there's a black widow spider on the wall.
look * over +	examine, review	When I'm camping, I look my shoes over before I put them on.
look * up +	search for (in a dictionary)	I takes time to look up new vocabulary words.
look * up +	locate and visit	If you ever travel to California, you should look me up.
look up to +	respect, admire someone	He looks up to his father.

Verb Phrase K

keep * around	have handy, have accessible	I always keep a dictionary around to translate new words.
keep at +	not give up (an activity), to persevere	You should keep at your studies.
keep * away	prevent access to, hold back	Keep the kids away from the cookies.
keep * back	maintain a safe distance, cause to maintain a safe distance	Keep back! The burning building is about to collapse.
keep * down	not vomit, not throw up, keep in one's stomach	If I ate that, I down know if I could keep it down.
keep * in	keep in a particular place, have something in a specific location	When I am not using it, I keep my passport in this drawer.
keep * off	prevent from stepping or climbing on to something	Keep the cat off the couch.
keep on	continue	He kept on talking after everybody asked him to stop.
keep * out	prevent from entering	Keep the dog out of the garden; he keeps digging up the flowers.
keep * over	cover something with, put something above	I keep a tarp over my bicycle at night to prevent it from getting wet.
keep to +	continue, persist in (an activity)	Everybody said she would never finish the puzzle, but she kept to it until it was done.
keep up	stay on the required schedule	You have to keep up if you want to work here.
keep * up +	continue	You are doing a great job! Keep it up.
keep up with +	stay on schedule with (a person, the workload, homework)	I have so much reading that I can't keep up with the writing exercises.
kick back	sit or lie back (to relax)	After work, I like to kick back in front of the TV and relax.
kick in	begin taking effect	The medicine takes one hour to kick in.

Verb Phrase J

jack up +	to raise	We need to jack up the car before we change the tire.
joke around	to be humorous	Mike is always joking around at work.
jump in	enter a conversation	Feel free to jump in at any moment while we are talking.
jump to +	make a quick, poorly thought out decision	You shouldn't jump to conclusions.

Verb Phrase I

iron * out

eliminate

We need to have a meeting this week in order to iron out the distribution problems.

Verb Phrase H

hand * back +	return	Is the teacher going to hand back our tests today?
hand * down +	pronounce formally	The president is going to hand his decision down on health care tonight.
hand * down +	give as an inheritance	When my clothes got too small for me as a child, I handed them down to my sister.
hand * in +	submit	I have to hand in an offer by March 12.
hand * out +	distribute	We should hand the concert fliers out at school.
hand * over +	relinquish control of	Hand your car keys over. You're too drunk to drive.
hang around +	stay in a place for fun ( inf.)	Maria and Salvador usually hang around the beach after school.
hang around	stay in a place for fun	Those guys just hang around all day.
hang * up +	suspend (clothes on a hanger)	You can hang your jacket up in the front closet.
hang up	put down the telephone receiver	Don't hang up. I'm going to change phones.
hang out +	stay in a place for fun (inf.)	Let's go hang out at the mall tonight.
hang out	stay in a place for fun	What are you doing? - - I'm just hanging out.
have * on +	wear	Do you have your hiking boots on?
have * over	invite guests to your home	Why don't we have Mr. and Mrs. Jones over for dinner tonight.
hear from +	receive news from (a letter, an e-mail)	Have you heard from Steve lately?
hear of +	know about something or somebody	Have you heard of chocolate covered ants?
hit on +	find on accident	I hit on the idea while watching the Simpsons show.
hit on +	flirt with	Jay's friend Marc was trying to hit on my sister last night.
hold * back +	restrain	The police held the demonstrators back while the politicians entered the building.
hold back	not allow to advance in school	The teacher held Frank back a year, so he couldn't enter fifth grade.
hold * off +	restrain	Mr. Johnson held the dog off while we crossed the yard.
hold off on +	delay	We should hold off on making dinner until your parents arrive.
hold on	grasp tightly	Hold on tight! The roller coaster is about to take off.
hold on	tell someone to wait on the telephone	Hold on a minute. I'll get Carol.
hold on to +	grasp tightly	Make sure you hold on to the hand rail as you walk down the stairs.
hold out	not give in, continue to resist	Stop holding out and tell us where you found all of these old records.
hold out against +	not give in, resist	They held out against enemy attack.
hold * up +	delay (a flight, traffic);	The accident held traffic up for an hour.
hold * up +	rob (a bank, a person) with a weapon	Five men held the bank up yesterday.
hook * up +	make the electrical connections required for a machine or information service	Can you hook up the fax machine for me?