Phrasal Verbs Topics is designed to help intermediate to advanced learners of English improve their knowledge of phrasal verbs. It can be used as a self-study guide by learners, or used by teachers in their EFL/ESL classes whether online or classroom based learning and teaching.
- Phrasal Verbs – Aa and Examples
- Phrasal Verbs – Bb and Examples
- Phrasal Verbs – Cc and Examples Part 1
- Phrasal Verbs – Cc and Examples Part 2
- Phrasal Verbs – Cc and Examples Part 3
come on | The Channel Nine News comes on at 6 o’clock, after a couple of game shows. |
My favorite show comes on at 10 o’clock, so let’s get home before that. | |
Maria’s English is coming on very well, but her brother Juan’s isn’t coming along as well as hers. Maybe she could help him out. | |
His listening skills aren’t coming on as well as his reading skills. | |
come out | Many people were shocked when details of the senator’s accident came out. According to the police report, he was driving while drunk. |
come out | He can’t wait for the Soggy Bottom Boy’s new album to come out. They’re his favourite band. |
come out | It’s hard for gay sports stars and movie stars to come out and be open about their sexuality. They know many prejudiced fans will reject them. |
Hector decided he had to come out, so he told his family he was gay. | |
come over | Why don’t you come over after work and I’ll show you my new computer? I get home around six so come over any time after that. |
Some friends came over last Sunday and we had a barbecue. | |
come through | Your self-assurance came through during your presentation, especially when you were answering those difficult questions at the end. |
Her lack of confidence comes through whenever she speaks in public. | |
We weren’t sure if you could come up with a good design, but you’ve really come through this time. It’s great! | |
come to | The total amount comes to $89.95, including sales tax, shipping costs and handling charges. |
come to | It was so hot that I fainted. When I came to, Robert was splashing water on my face. |
come up | Do you think the issue of getting more staff will come up at this week’s meeting? |
What time does the sun come up at this time of year? | |
come up with | How did the Spanish architect Gaudi come up with such incredible designs for his buildings? |
Patti Smith always comes up with powerful lyrics for her songs. | |
come with | All these sound systems come with a two-year guarantee covering all parts and service. |
compare to | The war in Iraq has been compared to the Vietnam War by several historians. They say the two conflicts share several important features. |
compare with | If we compare this year’s sales with last year’s sales, they aren’t very good, and we need to figure out why. |
consist of | An anti-terrorist task force was set up, consisting of police, army specialists, intelligence officers and computer experts. |
cook up
(informal) |
He wanted to have the day off work, so he cooked up a story about having to visit his aunt in hospital. |
I was late to work, so I cooked up a story about problems with my car. | |
cool down | If your car overheats, let the engine cool down before you open the hood to check it. |
If the soup’s too hot, is it impolite to blow on it to cool it down? | |
cool off | If you get angry, stop, count to ten, and try to cool off before you say anything. |
I wouldn’t bother him while he’s angry. Wait until he’s cooled off. | |
correspond to / with | The work the women had to do didn’t correspond to the job description given in the newspaper ads. It was very different work. |
Did the material’s quality correspond with that of the sample they sent? | |
He didn’t understand at first, but it didn’t take him long to cotton on. | |
couldn’t ask for | We won the game by six goals to one. We couldn’t have asked for a better result. |
I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday. All my friends and family came. | |
count down | We counted the seconds down to midnight, and then everyone called out ‘Happy New Year!’ |
After counting down from 100 to 1, they launched the rocket. | |
count in | If you’re going out dancing tonight, you can count me in. I’d love to go along. |
count on | You can count on John. He’s very reliable, so if he says he’ll have it done on time, it’ll be done on time. |
count out | If you’re going to the pub, count me out. I’d like to come along but I promised my wife I’d go straight home tonight. |
Bob said to count him out if we’re booking a table for dinner. He’s too busy. | |
cover up | The president’s party covered up the fact that he’d been treated for addiction to drugs and alcohol, and most people never found out. |
Governments try to cover up mistakes or corruption any way they can. | |
crack down | Don’t drink before you drive. The police are cracking down on drunk drivers and you could end up in jail. |
Politicians often promise to crack down on corruption, but few do. | |
crack up
(informal) |
He cracked up after losing all his savings on the stock exchange, and tried to kill himself. |
She cracked up due to stress from work and ended up in hospital. | |
I was really tired. I crashed out on the sofa while watching TV. | |
cross out | Check the guest list and cross out the names of all the people who didn’t come. |
cry out | The wounded soldier cried out in pain as his friends picked him up and put him on a stretcher. |
cut across | We don’t have to follow the road. It’d be quicker if we cut across the park. |
The racing driver was disqualified for cutting across the track. | |
cut back | You spend too much. Don’t you think you should try to cut back on the amount of money you spend each month? |
The rose bushes are getting too big, so Pedro is going to cut them back. | |
cut off | He was talking to his kids on the phone when he was cut off, so he had to call them again. |
They lived on a small island in the Pacific Ocean, cut off from the rest of the world. | |
While he was in jail in Iraq, he was cut off from his family and friends. | |
cut out | The kids were running around the living room when their father told them to cut it out before they broke something. |
cut out | Our son’s a professional football player and whenever his picture’s in the newspaper, my wife cuts it out and puts it in a special scrapbook. |
My daughter likes to cut out and keep interesting magazine articles. |
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