English Phrasal VerbsPhrasal Verbs are idiomatic expressions, combining verbs and prepositions to make new verbs whose meaning is often not obvious from the dictionary definitions of the individual words. They are widely used in both written and spoken English, and new ones are formed all the time as they are a flexible way of creating new terms.
Phrasal Verbs starting with A :Account for : To explain They had to ACCOUNT FOR all the money that had gone missing. Ache for : Want something or someone a lot My partner's been away for a fortnight. I am ACHING FOR her. Act on : To take action because of something like information received The police were ACTING ON a tip from an informer and caught the gang red-handed. Act out : 1. Perform something with actions and gestures They ACTED OUT the story on stage. 2. Express an emotion in your behaviour Their anger is ACTED OUT in their antisocial behaviour. Act up : Behave badly or strangely My computer's ACTING UP. I think I might have a virus. Add on : Include in a calculation You have to ADD the VAT ON to the price they give. Add up : 1. To make a mathematical total We ADDED UP the bill to check it was correct. 2. Be a satisfactory explanantion for something She explained why the work wasn't ready, but her story doesn't ADD UP. Add up to : Have a certain result Trains delays are getting worse and with the high fares, it all ADDS UP TO misery for the commuters. Aim at : To target The magazine is AIMED AT teenagers. Allow for : Include something in a plan or calculation You should ALLOW FOR delays when planning a journey. Angle for : Try to get something indirectly, by hinting or suggesting He's been ANGLING FOR an invitation, but I don't want him to come. Answer back : To reply rudely to someone in authority Her mother was shocked when she started ANSWERING her BACK and refusing to help. Answer for : 1. Be held responsible for a problem The government should be made to ANSWER FOR their failure to sort out the problem. 2. Speak on behalf of someone or from knowing them I can ANSWER FOR my partner because I know her position on this issue. Argue out : Argue about a problem to find a solution If we can't ARGUE our differences OUT, we'll have to take them to court. Ask after : Enquire about someone's health, how life is going Jenny rang earlier and ASKED AFTER you, so I told her you were fine. Ask around : 1. Ask a number of people for information of help I have no idea, but I'll ASK AROUND at work and see if anyone can help. 2. Invite someone We ASKED them AROUND for dinner. Ask for : To provoke a negative reaction You're ASKING FOR trouble. Ask in : To invite somebody into your house Jon's at the door. ASK him IN. Ask out : To invite someone for a date He wanted to ASK her OUT but was too shy. Ask over : Invite They have ASKED us OVER for drinks on Friday. Ask round : Invite someone We ASKED John ROUND for diner. Auction off : Sell something in an auction They AUCTIONED OFF their property as they were heavily in debt.
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