English Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal 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.
A Phrasal Verb consists of a verb and a preposition or adverb that modifies or changes the meaning. Give up is such a verb that means stop doing something, which is very different from give. The word or words that modify a verb in this manner can also go under the name particle.
A reference page of 2,570 current English Phrasal Verbs (also called multi-word verbs) with definitions and examples is here.
Phrasal Verbs starting with G :
Gad about: Visit a lot of different places for pleasure
I spent the afternoon GADDING ABOUT in the West End.
Gad around: Visit different places for pleasure
I spent the afternoon GADDING AROUND looking for some books.
Gag for: Want something a lot
I'm GAGGING FOR a drink.
Gang up: Form a group against something or someone
They GANGED UP to try to stop the new system.
Gang up on: Harass, bully
They GANGED UP ON him because of the way he spoke.
Gear up: Get ready for a busy period
The shops are GEARING UP for the New Year sales.
Geek out: Talk at length about computing
Henry always GEEKS OUT at parties and bores all the people who don't know much about computers.
Get about:
Visit many places
I GET ABOUT a lot with my job- last years I visited eleven countries.
Become known
It didn't take long for the news to GET ABOUT- everyone's talking about it.
Walk or visit places
She can't GET ABOUT much, but she is in her eighties.
Have personal or sexual relationships with many people
She GETS ABOUT a bit; she's always with some new guy.
Get above: Behave as if you are better or more important than others
She's been GETTING ABOVE HERSELF since she got promoted. (This is normally used in progressive forms and followed by a reflexive pronoun, though 'get above your station' is also used.)
Get across:
Communicate successfully
I just couldn't GET my message ACROSS at the meeting.
Go from one side to the other
It's impossible to GET ACROSS the road with all this traffic.
Move something from one side to the other
How are we going to GET these bags ACROSS the river?
Get across to: Be convincing or make a good impression
How can I GET ACROSS TO my audience?
Get after:
Nag or exhort someone
You should GET AFTER them to finish the work.
Chase
GET AFTER her and give her the message before she leaves the building.
Get ahead: Progress
Nowadays, you need IT skills if you want to GET AHEAD.
Get ahead of: Move in front of
I work at home in the evening to GET AHEAD OF schedule.
Get along:
Have a good relationship
Why don't you two GET ALONG? You're always arguing.
Leave
It's late; we must be GETTING ALONG.
Progress
How's the homework GETTING ALONG?
Get along in: Progress
How are you GETTING ALONG IN the company?
Get along with:
Have a good relationship with someone
I don't GET ALONG WITH my sister- we have nothing in common.
Deal with, handle
How are you GETTING ALONG WITH the training course?
Get around:
Become known
It didn't take long for the news to GET AROUND once it got into the newspapers.
Visit many different places
He GETS AROUND a lot- he's always flying somewhere different.
Walk or go to places
He's finding it hard to GET AROUND since the operation and spends most of his time at home.
Avoid a problem
It'll be tricky, but we will find a way to GET AROUND the regulations.
Persuade, convince
She didn't want to accept my application because it was late, but I managed to GET AROUND her.
Have personal or sexual relationships with many people
He GETS AROUND a bit; he's always with some new girlfriend.
Get around to: Finally manage to do something, make the effort to do something
It always takes me ages to GET AROUND to replying to letters.
Get at:
Criticise
His boss is always GETTING AT him for arriving late.
Mean
What do you think she's GETTING AT? I've no idea what she wants.
Be able to reach, find, access
It's on the top shelf and I can't GET AT it.
Use threats, payments, bribes, etc, to affect someone's testimony or decision
The gangsters GOT AT the jury, who found them not guilty of all charges despite the evidence presented in court.
Get away:
Escape
The robbers GOT AWAY in a stolen car, which the police later found abandoned.
Go on holiday or for a short break
We love to GET AWAY from everything and relax in the country.
Move, leave somewhere
He didn't come because he was stuck at work and couldn't GET AWAY.
Get away from:
Go somewhere different or do something different
Work's getting on top of me; I need to GET AWAY FROM it.
Start to talk about something that is not relevant to the discussion
I think we're GETTING AWAY FROM the point here- we need to concentrate on the main ideas.
Get away with:
Not get caught, criticised or punished for doing something wrong
Thieves GOT AWAY WITH two Picassos, which were never found.
Achieve something, despite not doing it correctly or properly
Do you think we could GET AWAY WITH using the cheaper product?
Get away! : An expression of disbelief
"I passed." "GET AWAY! You couldn't have passed."
Get back:
Return
The train was held up so we didn't GET BACK home until midnight.
Return something
Don't lend him any money; you'll never GET it BACK.
Revenge
He was rude and embarrassed me, but I'll GET him BACK.
Move away
The police told the crowd to GET BACK to allow the ambulance through.
Get back at: Take revenge
I'll GET BACK AT her for landing me in trouble.
Get back into:
Start doing something after stopping for some time
I am GETTING BACK INTO my Khmer lessons after the summer break.
Find a new enthusiasm for something
I lost interest for a while, but I'm GETTING BACK INTO it.
Get back to:
Respond to a contact
I'll GET BACK TO you as soon as I hear any news.
Respond when you know the answer
I don't know at the moment, but I will GET BACK TO you as soon as I have the information.
Start doing something again after an interruption
It took me ages to GET BACK TO sleep after the phone rang.
Get back together: Restart a relationship
We split up a few months ago but GOT BACK TOGETHER last week.
Get behind: Support
All the students GOT BEHIND the teacher.
Get behind with: Be late paying installments for something
If you GET BEHIND WITH mortgage payments, you might lose your home.
Get by:
Have just enough money to live on
They're finding it increasingly difficult to GET BY since their daughter was born.
Not be noticed (problems, errors, etc)
I had checked it, but there still were a few mistakes that didn't GET BY the editor.
Get by on: Manage on a certain amount of money
It's hard to GET BY ON my salary.
Get by with: Have enough of something to do the job
We should be able to GET BY WITH three PCs, but four would be better.
Get down:
Make someone depressed, unhappy, exhausted, etc.
The miserable weather in winter really GETS me DOWN.
Write, record
I couldn't GET DOWN everything he said.
Manage to swallow
The medicine tasted horrible and it was difficult to GET it DOWN.
Descend, leave a vehicle
The trained pulled in and we GOT DOWN.
Leave the table after eating
When they had finished dinner, the children asked if they could GET DOWN.
Reduce
The doctor says I my GET my cholesterol levels DOWN.
Have an affair or sexual relations
They GOT DOWN at the party last week.
Get down on: Criticise
My mother used to GET DOWN ON us for not doing enough homework.
Get down to:
Start working seriously
I find it extremely difficult to GET DOWN TO doing any revision for examinations.
Enjoy something a lot
People were GETTING DOWN TO the concert.
Get in:
Arrange for someone to do a job in your home, workplace, etc
The air conditioning has broken down; we'll have to GET a technician IN to fix it.
Arrive (train, plane, etc.)
Her plane GETS IN at 2 AM our time.
Arrive home
She didn't GET IN till well after twelve o'clock because she'd been out for a few drinks with her mates.
Enter a car or taxi
The taxi pulled up and we GOT IN.
Buy or obtain supplies, like food
We need to GET some coffee IN; we're completely out.
Arrive at work, school, home
I GOT IN late today because the train broke down.
Enter a building or place
I borrowed her pass to GET IN.
Be elected
The government GOT IN with a very small majority.
Manage to say or do
I couldn't GET a word IN throughout the meeting.
Be admitted to a university, club, etc
He did badly in the entrance exam and didn't GET IN.
Bring inside a place
It's raining; I'd better GET the washing IN.
Submit, apply
We have to GET the forms IN by the end of this week.
Pay for drinks
He GOT the drinks IN.
Get in on: Become involved
The company tried to GET IN ON our market.
Get in with: Become friendly with, ingratiate with
I tried to GET IN WITH them as I thought it would help me at work.
Get into:
Become involved or interested
She's been GETTING INTO dance music recently.
Become involved in something bad or criminal
He GOT INTO drugs when he was at university.
Be accepted or admitted
She did well and GOT INTO Cambridge University.
Become or be accepted as a member
He GOT INTO the first team for football.
Start a habit or way of acting or behaving
It took me ages to GET INTO driving on the left.
Be small enough to wear something
I couldn't GET INTO the boots; they were too tight.
Criticize
He GOT INTO me for doing it badly.
Get it: Be punished or scolded
If you don't stop that right now, you'll really GET IT!
Get it off: Have sex
They GOT IT OFF at the party.
Get it off with: Have sex with
She GOT IT OFF WITH her friend's husband.
Get it on:
Become interested or excited
The talk was dull and nobody GOT IT ON.
Have sex
Did you two GET IT ON?
Get it on with: Have sex with
Did you GET IT ON WITH him?
Get it together:
Control things in your life to achieve your aims
If I don't GET IT TOGETHER, I will never reach my targets.
Begin a relationship
They only GET IT TOGETHER at the very end of the film.
Get it up: Become aroused (of a man)
He couldn't GET IT UP and felt very embarrassed.
Get off:
Escape punishment
He GOT OFF on a technicality and left the court a free man.
Leave a bus, train, etc.
We GOT OFF the bus and walked to my house.
Finish, leave work
I like to GET OFF early on Fridays.
Start a journey
We need to GET OFF early to avoid the rush hour traffic.
Help a baby or child sleep
I can't GET the kids OFF because of the noise from next door.
Orgasm, have sex
We GOT OFF last night.
Manage to fire a gun
She GOT OFF a few shots before she was arrested.
Stop talking on the phone
Let me know when he GETS OFF the phone as I need to make a call.
Write or send letters, messages, etc
I GOT three emails OFF before the meeting.
Say or write something funny
She GOT OFF some jokes at the start of her presentation.
Get off it: A way of expressing disbelief
I knew he was lying so I told him to GET OFF IT.
Get off on:
Enjoy a drug
He GETS OFF ON crystal moth every night.
Become excited by
She GETS OFF ON her power over us.
Get off with: Have casual sex with
He GOT OFF WITH her at the party.
Get off! : Don't touch, leave alone
If he bothers you, just tell him where to GET OFF.
Get on:
Continue doing something
The teacher asked the pupils to GET ON with some work quietly as she had to leave the classroom.
Enter a bus, train, plane, etc.
We GOT ON the train at Plymouth and went up to London.
Make progress, deal with something with a reasonable degree of success
How are you GETTING ON with your Spanish lessons?
Have a good relationship
We have always GOT ON well.
Become old, age
He's GETTING ON now and doesn't work so hard.
Be late or near an arranged time
I must get home now; it's GETTING ON.
Wear, fit
I have put so much weight on that I couldn't GET my old suits ON.
Leave
I must be GETTING ON; I have other things to do this evening.
Get on at: Criticise unfairly
He's always GETTING ON AT me when I haven't done anything wrong.
Get on for: Be near a time
It's GETTING ON FOR midnight.
Get on to: Start to suspect
It took the authorities a long time to GET ON TO the gang.
Get on with:
Have a good relationship
Fortunately, I GET ON WITH my boss.
Continue or start doing something
She told us to GET ON WITH our work.
Get onto:
Start discussing a topic
We didn't GET ONTO the third item on the agenda.
Be elected, appointed
He didn't GET ONTO the committee.
Appear on the radio or TV
He GOT ONTO every major channel after the accident.
Contact someone because you need or want them to do something
We'd better GET ONTO someone to fix this.
Enter a plane, train, etc
She GOT ONTO the plane just before it took off.
Get out:
Leave the house to visit place and socialize
She doesn't GET OUT much now she has her baby.
Become known when people want it to remain secret
The truth GOT OUT despite the injunction on reporting the case.
Leave a place, escape
The dog GOT OUT because I left the door open.
Remove something from where it is stored to use it
I GOT the car OUT so that we could load up the suitcases.
Remove dirt or something unwanted
I spilled some red wine on my carpet and can't GET the stains OUT.
Publish, make available for the public to see or buy
We have to GET the report OUT by the end of the month.
Say what you want when it is difficult
He was so upset he couldn't GET the words OUT.
Get out of:
Avoid doing something you dislike
I said I wasn't feeling well and GOT OUT OF the extra work.
Leave a car, van, etc.
We GOT OUT OF the taxi and paid the driver.
Stop a regular activity or habit
If you GET OUT OF a routine, it can be hard to start again.
Make someone confess or tell the truth
The police couldn't GET any information OUT OF him.
Make someone give something to you
Did you GET a refund OUT OF the travel agency?
Derive pleasure or benefit from something
She's GETTING a lot OUT OF her university course.
Help someone avoid doing something
I GOT him OUT OF having to work at the weekend.
Get out! : Expression of disbelief
'I got 100% on the test.' 'Get out!'
Get over:
Recover from something, feel better
It took me ages to GET OVER the bout of flu.
Solve, find a solution
It took us a long time to GET OVER the problems with the computer system.
Communicate, make people understand
He makes jokes to help GET his message OVER.
Be shocked or surprised that something if real or true
I couldn't GET OVER how much weight he had put on.
Get to the other side
We couldn't GET OVER the river because of the floods.
Come somewhere
He said he needed help and ask me to GET OVER as soon as I could.
Get over with: Do something unpleasant that has to be done rather than delaying it any more
I GOT the test OVER WITH rather than have to worry about it any longer.
Get round:
Become known
I don't want this to GET ROUND, so please keep it to yourself.
Find a solution
We're nearly ready, but there are few little problems we have to GET ROUND before we finish.
Get round (around) to: Finally manage to do something
It always takes me ages to GET ROUND to writing letters. (In American English 'around' is used)
Get round (or around) : Persuade someone
She didn't want to let me do it, but I succeeded in GETTING ROUND her. (In American English 'around' is used)
Get through:
Contact
I tried calling her mobile phone, but I couldn't GET THROUGH.
Consume
He GETS THROUGH two bottles of wine a day.
Finish
I'm going to take some work home because I haven't managed to GET THROUGH it all today.
Finish
Call me when you GET THROUGH.
Succeed in an exam or test
My car didn't GET THROUGH its inspection.
Help someone or something succeed or pass a test or exam
My teacher GOT me THROUGH the exam.
Endure or deal with a difficult experience
We will have to be careful with our money to GET THROUGH the month.
Be accepted or passed (laws, proposals, etc)
If the proposal GETS THROUGH, it'll make things much better for us.
Manage to pass
The water GOT THROUGH the roof and damaged the carpets.
Arrive
The message didn't GET THROUGH.
Get through to:
Make someone understand
I explained it carefully, but I just couldn't GET THROUGH TO him.
Contact, especially by phone
I rang but couldn't GET THROUGH TO her.
Reach a stage in a competition
If they win, they'll GET THROUGH TO the quarter finals.
Get to:
Annoy, irritate
Don't let her GET TO you; she's just in a bad mood.
Arrive
When I GET TO it, I'll look at the matter carefully.
Start discussing a topic
We asked him to GET TO the point, but he just waffled away.
Get together: Meet socially
We GOT TOGETHER in the pub for a drink.
Get up:
Get out of bed
I GET UP at seven o'clock on weekdays, but lie in till noon at the weekend.
Organize
They GOT UP a list of two hundred people who were opposed to the local council's plans.
Get up to: Do something wrong or naughty
The children are always GETTING UP TO some trouble or other.
Give away:
Entrust your daughter to her husband through the marriage ceremony
He GAVE his daughter AWAY and told the groom to look after her.
Tell a secret, often unintentionally
She didn't GIVE anything AWAY about the party so it came as a complete surprise to me.
Distribute something for free
In this issue of the magazine, they are giving away a free DVD.
Give without asking for or expecting payment
He decided to GIVE his new album AWAY in a magazine.
Give an advantage to your opponent in a sport by making a mistake, playing badly, etc
They GAVE AWAY two goals in the first half.
Give an unwanted baby to people to bring up
She had to GIVE her baby AWAY as she couldn't afford to bring it up.
Betray, report to authorities
The gang GAVE him AWAY to the police.
Give a weight advantage to an opponent in boxing
He is GIVING AWAY thirty pounds to the challenger.
Give back:
Return something you've borrowed
I GAVE the money BACK that she'd lent to me.
Return something that someone has lost
Nothing could GIVE me BACK the way I felt before the scandal.
Give in:
Stop doing something because it's too hard or requires too much energy
I couldn't finish the crossword puzzle and had to GIVE IN and look at the answers.
Submit homework, etc.
The projects have to be GIVEN IN three weeks before we break up for the end of term.
Surrender, accept defeat
They GAVE IN when the police surrounded the building.
Offer or submit for judgment, approval
They GAVE IN their complaint to the court.
Give in to:
Agree to something you don't like
The government says it will not GIVE IN TO terrorists.
Allow a feeling or desire to control you
Ev
entually, I GAVE IN TO my anger and screamed at them.
Give it to: Criticize harshly or punish someone for something
They really GAVE IT TO me for forgetting to turn up.
Give it up for: Applaud
Please GIVE IT UP FOR our next guest.
Give it up to:Applaud
Please GIVE IT UP TO our next guest.
Give of:Contribute without expecting anything in return, usually time or money
He GIVES OF his free time to help the club.
Give off:
Emit pollution or something else unpleasant
The police stopped the van because it was GIVING OFF a lot of black smoke.
Behave in a way that makes people think of you in a certain way
She GIVES OFF an air of nobility.
Expand
The company is GIVING OFF all over the country.
Follow or take one of 2 or more branches (instructions, in machine code) in writing a computer program (using system software for a programming language)
A particular application of a processing code can be GIVEN OFF while requiring minimal run-time support.
Give onto:Open into a place, for a door or window
The French windows GIVE ONTO the lawn.
Give out:
Distribute
Somebody was GIVING leaflets OUT in front of the underground station.
Stop working, through age or overuse
I'd been having trouble with my laptop and it finally GAVE OUT at the weekend.
Have no more of a supply
The water GAVE OUT after a week in the desert.
Make public
They GAVE the names of the winners OUT last night.
Emit
The factory GIVES OUT a lot of fumes.
End or finish somewhere
The path GIVES OUT halfway around the lake.
Make a sound or noise
She GAVE OUT a moan.
Read the wordings of a hymn or psalm aloud for congregational singing
He GAVE OUT the psalm.
Give over:
Stop doing something bad or annoying
They were making a lot of noise so I told them to GIVE OVER.
Entrust, pass on responsibility
We've GIVEN the premises OVER to the new company.
Stop an activity
The police told the rioters to GIVE OVER.
Give over to:
Dedicate, devote
He GAVE himself OVER TO finding his son.
Transfer responsibility
After her death, they GAVE control of the estate OVER TO her niece.
Give over! :An expression of disbelief
They've doubled your salary- GIVE OVER!
Give up:
Stop doing something that has been a habit
I GAVE UP taking sugar in tea and coffee to lose weight.
Stop being friendly, end relationships
She GAVE UP all her school friends when she went to university.
Stop doing something
I have GIVEN UP trying to help them.
Surrender, stop trying
I can't think of the answer; I GIVE UP.
Sacrifice or dedicate time, etc, to something
I GAVE UP all my free time to the project.
Allow someone to sit in your chair, take your place, etc
I GAVE UP my seat to a pregnant woman.
Allow or give away a run while pitching (baseball)
He has GIVEN UP 14 earned runs in 14 innings.
Give up on:
Lose faith in or stop believing in something or someone
I GAVE UP ON them when I heard what they were saying about me behind my back.
Stop feeling hope
I have GIVEN UP ON them; they never do what they promise.
Give up to:Denounce, report to authorities
He GAVE his accomplices UP TO the police.
Give way:
Stop to allow vehicles to pass
You must GIVE WAY at this junction.
Collapse, break
The dam GAVE WAY when the floods rose.
Give way to:
Yield, surrender, retreat
Don't GIVE WAY TO your worst fears about this.
Relinquish position or ascendancy
Night GIVES WAY TO day.
Be replaced by something better, cheaper, more modern, etc
Cottage industries GAVE WAY TO the big companies.
Allow a vehicle to pass in front
You must GIVE WAY TO oncoming traffic.
Surrender to strong emotions
He GAVE WAY TO his anger and started screaming at them.
Give yourself up:Surrender to the police or authorities
The gang GAVE THEMSELVES UP last night.
Give yourself up to:Dedicate time, energy, etc, to something
He GAVE himself UP TO his job.
Gloss over: Try to minimize the importance of something
The Minister tried to GLOSS OVER the report that was critical of her department.
Gnaw at:
Trouble, worry or annoy someone
I know it was wrong and guilt has GNAWED AT me ever since I did it.
Harm gradually
The government's dishonesty has GNAWED AT people's trust in politicians.
Gnaw away at: Harm gradually
Their behavior GNAWED AWAY AT our trust in them.
Go about:
Deal with something
How should I GO ABOUT telling her the bad news?
Circulate
A rumor is GOING ABOUT involving the Attorney General.
Go across: Move to another side or place
He WENT ACROSS to the opposition.
Go after: Chase, try to get
The cat WENT AFTER the pigeon, but it flew away.
Go against: Lose a decision or a verdict of a court
If the decision GOES AGAINST me, I'll go bankrupt.
Go ahead: Proceed
The construction of the bypass WENT AHEAD despite the protests from environmentalists.
Go ahead with: Proceed
We now intend to GO AHEAD WITH the final stage of the project.
Go along with: Accept a decision or suggestion
I didn't really agree, but I WENT ALONG WITH the decision because I was in the minority.
Go around:
Circulate
A rumor is GOING AROUND about the Attorney General.
Be or have enough of something
There aren't enough jobs to GO AROUND for the numbers of people graduating nowadays.
Visit
I WENT AROUND for dinner at their house.
Go at: Attack or approach something with vigor
She WENT AT her dinner like she hadn't eaten for days.
Go away: Leave a place or disappear
This drug should make the pain GO AWAY.
Go back: Have a long history
He and I GO BACK a long way- we were at school together.
Go back on: Break a promise
The government has GONE BACK ON their promise not to raise taxes.
Go before: Precede
We can’t ignore what has GONE BEFORE and pretend that everything has been OK.
Go below: Leave the top deck of a ship
The captain told the passengers to GO BELOW when the storm started.
Go by:
The passing of time
Ten years WENT BY before we saw each other again.
Trust or depend on for correct information
Don't GO BY my watch; it's usually a bit slow.
Pay a short visit, call
Nobody was at home when I WENT BY yesterday.
Go down:
Decrease, get smaller
The price of scanners has GONE DOWN recently.
Sink
The Titanic WENT DOWN after it hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage.
Sunset
The sun WENT DOWN at seven o'clock.
Be sent to prison
He WENT DOWN for ten years for armed robbery.
Become recorded as or known as
It WENT DOWN as the worst day in the history of the company.
Be eaten or swallowed
The medicine WENT DOWN easily.
Fall to the ground
The boxer WENT DOWN in the second round.
Happen, take place
The police thought that a big crime was GOING DOWN that night.
Stop working, especially computers
The computer system WENT DOWN for an hour last night.
Become dimmer
The lights WENT DOWN and the audience stopped talking.
Be received by people, in terms of their reaction
My joke WENT DOWN very badly.
Go down on: Perform oral sex
He WENT DOWN ON her.
Go down to: Be defeated
Chelsea WENT DOWN TO Arsenal in a thrilling game.
Go down with:
Fall ill
She WENT DOWN WITH a virus.
Find acceptance
Do you think the scheme will GO DOWN WITH the farmers in the area?
Go for:
Attack
The neighbor’s dog WENT FOR the postman and bit him.
Be attracted to
She tends to GO FOR guys like him.
Choose, select
I'll GO FOR the soup of the day, followed by the duck.
Try to get
The player WENT FOR the ball but missed.
Have something favorable
The play didn't have much GOING FOR IT and we left halfway through.
Pass for or serve as
It's a couch that also GOES FOR a bed.
Go forth:
Leave a place
He WENT FORTH and found a wife in another city.
Travel abroad, leave a place
They WENT FORTH to spread the word of the new religion.
Go forward:
Move clocks ahead
The clocks MOVE FORWARD an hour on Sunday.
Progress
The top three teams GO FORWARD to the next round.
Go in:
Go to hospital for treatment, surgery, etc.
He WENT IN for a triple bypass operation two days ago.
Fit
The cable GOES IN here.
Disappear, become obscured by a cloud
The sun has GONE IN.
Attack
The troops WENT IN at dawn.
Go in for:
Enter a competition or sit an exam
He WENT IN FOR the photography prize, but didn't win.
Support, advocate
I don't GO IN FOR the claims being made about blogging.
Like, have an interest in
He GOES IN FOR classical music.
Make a career choice
Have you thought about GOING IN FOR teaching?
Go in with:
Form a union or alliance
They're going to GO IN WITH the Social Democrats.
Join, enter
Ask the other to GO IN WITH them on the plan.
Go into:
Discuss in some detail
They refused to GO INTO exactly what was wrong.
Enter a profession, hospital, trade, market
She WENT INTO banking after she'd finished university.
Begin a speech or description
He WENT INTO a long attack on the way press had handled the issue.
Be dedicated or devoted
A lot of time and effort WENT INTO this book.
Be contained in a larger number
Five GOES INTO sixty 12 times.
Go it:
Behave in a reckless way
Shouting at the boss like that is GOING IT.
Move or drive very fast
After the traffic jam, he really WENT IT to make up time.
Go it alone: Do something without help
He prefers to GO IT ALONE rather then working with the team.
Go off:
Explode (bomb), start ringing (alarm)
The fire alarm WENT OFF because someone was smoking in the toilets.
Go bad
The milk WENT OFF because I forgot to put it in the fridge.
Start to dislike
I WENT OFF her when she lied to me.
Leave a place
Please don't GO OFF until we have sorted this out.
Take place, follow a plan or pattern
The party WENT OFF well.
Stop working (electric/electronic equipment)
The lights GO OFF automatically when the office is empty.
Go off with:
Elope, run away with someone
She WENT OFF WITH her friend's husband.
Steal
He WENT OFF WITH my credit cards.
Go on:
Continue
He WENT ON and ON talking and I was so bored.
Happen
There are loads of people out in the street; what's GOING ON?
Start doing or taking something
She WENT ON the pill when she met him.
Be guided
The investigators have no clues to GO ON.
Be nearly a certain period of time
It's GOING ON ten years since we met.
Progress
They asked me how the project was GOING ON.
Spend money
Most of my salary GOES ON my mortgage repayments.
Start working (electric/electronic equipment)
The alarm GOES ON when you close the front door.
Go on about: Talk too much
He's always GOING ON ABOUT his kids.
Go on at: Pester; try to make someone do something by repeatedly asking or suggesting
He WENT ON AT his parents until they bought him the game.
Go on to: Proceed
We had dinner and WENT ON TO a few bars.
Go on with: Continue doing
Please GO ON WITH your work.
Go on! : A way of encouraging someone
GO ON! Apply for the job.
Go out:
Stop burning, be extinguished
The candle WENT OUT and left us in darkness.
Leave a place
He WENT OUT last night.
Go on strike
The workers WENT OUT for more money.
Become unfashionable
That sort of tie WENT OUT last year.
Move backwards, of a tide
The tide GOES OUT in the evening.
Be eliminated in a competition
England WENT OUT in the second round.
Be transmitted
The item WENT OUT on the news yesterday.
Be sent
The newsletter WENT OUT last night.
Intend
I didn't GO OUT to offend them.
Go out for: Become a candidate, apply for something
She WENT OUT FOR a place on the team.
Go out to: Feel sympathy with someone
Our condolences GO OUT TO all the families who have lost people in this tragic accident.
Go out with: Have a relationship with
He's been GOING OUT WITH his girlfriend for around six months now.
Go over:
Look at something, revise
We WENT OVER our notes before the exam.
Visit
I hadn't seen her for a while, so I WENT OVER on Friday night.
Be approved or accepted
My plans WENT OVER well.
Repeat or explain
Could you GO OVER that point again, please?
Clean
I WENT OVER the living room with the vacuum cleaner before they arrived.
Go over to:
Go on a journey
I'm GOING OVER TO Hong Kong next month.
Become converted
She WENT OVER TO Islam when she was living in the Middle East.
Change to something different
I used to drink beer but I have GONE OVER TO wine.
Go past: Pass without stopping
She WENT PAST me without saying hello.
Go round:
Be or have enough of something
There aren't enough jobs to GO ROUND for the numbers of people graduating nowadays.
Circulate
There's a nasty rumor GOING ROUND about them.
Visit
I WENT ROUND last night to see them.
Go through:
Experience
You wouldn't believe what I WENT THROUGH when I was ill!
Read again
I WENT THROUGH my notes before the exam.
Examine, search
I WENT THROUGH my desk looking for the letter.
Do something in a certain way or following certain procedures
You must GO THROUGH the proper channels to get the approval.
Explain
He WENT THROUGH his ideas twice but I couldn't really understand them.
Be approved formally or sanctioned
My divorce WENT THROUGH last week.
Enter
They said I could GO THROUGH the exam room.
Consume or spend
We WENT THROUGH a fortune on our holiday.
Perform or carry something out
I WENT THROUGH my work in a daze after I heard the news.
Go through with: Do or complete something you've agreed to
He did promise, but I doubt that he'll GO THROUGH WITH it.
Go together: Harmonize or be compatible
Drinking and driving don't GO TOGETHER.
Go towards: Contribute
The money WENT TOWARDS my university fees.
Go under:
Go bankrupt
Many small shops are GOING UNDER because they cannot compete with the supermarkets.
Lose consciousness
She WENT UNDER a few minutes after they administered the anesthetic.
Sink
The ship WENT UNDER in a heavy storm.
Go up:
Rise or climb
The price of petrol has GONE UP sharply because of the increase in duty in the Government's budget.
Approach
We WENT UP and asked them for some information about the courses.
Be built
Skyscrapers are GOING UP everywhere in the city centre.
Be heard
A huge cheer WENT UP when the president arrived.
Be promoted
The top three teams GO UP at the end of the season.
Go up to:
Approach
She WENT UP TO him and asked him if he wanted a drink.
Attend a university
She WENT UP TO Cambridge after she finished secondary school.
Reach
The book only GOES UP TO the start of the Second World War.
Go with:
Combine nicely
Does this tie GO WITH my shirt?
Accompany
A lot of benefits GO WITH the job.
Accept, agree to
We're GOING WITH our original plan in the end.
Date, have a relationship with
She's been GOING WITH him since she was at university.
Go without:
Not have
I had to GO WITHOUT lunch today because I didn't have any time.
Cope without having something
They're not coming, so we'll have to GO WITHOUT their help.
Goof around: Fool around, not be serious
We spent the weekend GOOFING AROUND.
Goof off: Avoid or leave work
We GOOFED OFF for the afternoon to watch the match.
Goof up: Mess, spoil
They GOOFED UP our plans.
Grass on: Report someone to a person in authority
He GRASSED ON us and got us into a lot of trouble.
Grass up: Report someone to a person in authority
She didn't to GRASS them UP, even though they'd been bullying her badly.
Grey out: Disable a function in a computer program, leaving it visible but not working
They GREYED OUT the print button to stop people using it. (In American English, 'gray' would be used.)
Grind away: Keep working at something
Although I hated it, I GROUND AWAY until I had finished.
Grind down: Reduce or destroy someone's enthusiasm
Their negativity GRINDS me DOWN.
Grind into: Press or twist something hard into something else
She GROUND her cigarette INTO the ashtray.
Grind on:
Proceed relentlessly
The war GROUND ON for years.
Talk endlessly
He was still GRINDING ON about football when we left.
Grind out: Produce something with great difficulty
I find it very hard to GRIND OUT an original essay every week.
Grind up: Reduce to small pieces
She GROUND the beans UP and made some coffee.
Grow apart: Become distant; stop having a close relationship because time, distance, interests, etc, have changed
We used to be good friends at school but have since GROWN APART.
Grow away from: Become less friendly with
I have GROWN AWAY FROM many of the people I grew up with.
Grow back: Grow again
Nails GROW BACK quickly after you cut them.
Grow from: Result from a process
A lot GREW FROM the peace talks.
Grow into:
Grow to fit large clothes
The jacket's a bit big, but she'll GROW INTO it.
Mature or change into
She's has GROWN INTO a lovely person.
Develop or change over time to fit something
It may seem difficult at first, but you will GROW INTO the job.
Grow on:
Like something that you didn't like at first
The painting has GROWN ON me; I used to eat it.
Have a greater influence or degree of acceptance
The plans sounded strange at first, but they have GROWN ON me.
Become gradually more evident
A feeling of distrust of them GREW ON me.
Grow out: Let hair, etc, with dyes, perms grow to get rid of the style
I'm letting the perm GROW OUT.
Grow out of:
Grow too large for clothes
He GREW OUT OF those shoes in no time at all.
Lose interest as you grow older or become more mature
He was obsessed with computer games but the he GREW OUT OF them.
Result or develop from
The idea for the film GREW OUT OF an accident that happened to the director.
Grow to: Eventually do something
We GREW TO like the neighborhood.
Grow together: Gradually become attached, united or close
We GREW TOGETHER while we were working on the same project.
Grow up:
Mature, become adult
He GREW UP in the West Country.
Arise, emerge
The industry GREW UP very quickly.
Develop in a place or for a reason (city, town, etc)
The town GREW UP as a trading post.
Rear a child
She GREW me UP to be polite at all times.
Grow up on: Do or have something when you are a child
We GREW UP ON cartoons.
Grow upon:
Like something that you didn't like at first
The book started slowly and was a bit dull, but it has GROWN UPON me.
Have a greater influence or degree of acceptance
As we got nearer the date of the meeting, their idea GREW UPON me.
Become gradually more evident
A feeling of distrust of them GREW UPON me.
Gun for: Try to destroy an opponent
He's GUNNING FOR his rivals at work.
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