Concrete and Physical Phrasal Verbs

to formally request or direct someone to perform a duty or task

He called the emergency services out immediately.

to cause something to happen, especially something undesirable or unpleasant

Lack of sleep can bring on a range of health problems.

to completely disappear or cease to exist

Some endangered species are at risk of dying out due to habitat loss.

to prevent a building or a part of it from falling, by putting large pieces of wood or metal under or against it

They shored the weakened wall up with additional beams.

to free oneself from a place that one is being held against their will, such as a prison

The prisoners attempted to break out during the night.

to transfer something to the next generation or another person

My grandmother passed down this quilt to me, and I plan to pass it down to my daughter.

to successfully overcome or manage a problem or a difficult situation

The community came together to break through social challenges.

to establish a fresh entity, such as a company, system, or organization

She set up a charity to support underprivileged children in the community.

to start a journey

They set out on their road trip as soon as the sun rose.

(of a computer or electronic device) to start and load the operating system into memory for use

The new software allows the computer to boot up much faster than before.

to finally understand something, usually after some initial difficulty

It took him a while to latch onto the concept, but he eventually got it.

to take action to continue with a task or situation

After receiving approval, they decided to act on the construction project immediately.

to expand by exploring new areas, options, or opportunities

She is eager to branch out professionally and explore new career paths.

to transfer the possession or ownership of something to another person

They passed their ancestral home on to their daughter, ensuring it stays in the family.

to betray one's principles or values for personal gain or convenience

Some musicians resist the temptation to sell out and remain true to their music.

(of a supply) to be completely used up

The printer ink ran out, so I can’t print these documents.

to remove clothing or covering quickly or completely

After coming in from the rain, he quickly stripped off his wet clothes.

to produce something quickly and in large quantities, often with a focus on quantity over quality

The factory churns out thousands of smartphones every day.

to manage or function without someone or something that is typically needed or desired

In times of scarcity, people learn to go without luxuries and focus on essentials.

rotate with a crank

to appear or come into view, often unexpectedly

The dolphin bobbed up beside the boat, delighting the passengers.

to pull or draw something in by winding it around a reel or similar device

The fisherman reeled in a massive trout after a long struggle.

to use force to separate one thing from another

The sculptor broke off a chunk of clay for shaping.

to decide against doing something that was expected or planned due to fearing the possible dangers or risks

The company decided to draw back from the international market due to economic uncertainties.

to cause the death of a character in a work of fiction, typically for dramatic effects or to advance the plot

The author is planning to kill off one of the main characters in the next book.

to clean or remove something by flushing it with water or another liquid

After finishing his meal, he rinsed his plate out and placed it in the dishwasher.

to remove something completely

When we stripped away the old wallpaper, we discovered an interesting mural painted on the wall.

to make food very quickly

She whipped a batch of cookies up for the bake sale.

to dominate or push aside something or someone by taking up all the available space, time, or attention

The loud music at the party crowded out any chance of conversation.

to gradually decrease in number, amount, or intensity over time

As winter approaches, the temperature tends to taper off.

to make something fuller or fluffier by shaking or adjusting it

She decided to plump the pillow up before guests arrived.

to distribute or divide something into smaller parts or portions for sharing

The teacher parcelled out the art supplies among the students for their projects.

to watch an event or incident without getting involved

Passers-by simply looked on as the two men argued heatedly on the sidewalk.

to repel or avoid an attack or undesirable situation

The use of insect repellent helps ward off mosquitoes and reduce the risk of insect-borne diseases.

to gradually move away or become distant, often in terms of physical distance or emotional detachment

After college, Sarah and I drifted away as we moved to different cities and started our careers.

to take something away using a vehicle or transport method, often to remove or relocate it

They had to haul off the old furniture to the recycling center after buying new ones.

to stop using or having something

In an effort to reduce waste, the company decided to do away with single-use plastic in its packaging.

to start a significant or challenging course of action or journey

She decided to embark on a career in medicine after completing her undergraduate degree.

to fall into pieces or separate

The old bridge started to break apart because of the weather.

to provide financial or material support to an organization, system, or person to prevent failure

The community gathered funds to prop up the local school that was facing closure due to lack of resources.

to visit a place or someone briefly, often without a prior arrangement

Feel free to drop by my office if you have any questions.

to lose consciousness

It was so hot in the room that she felt like she was going to pass out.

to remove or separate unwanted items or elements from a group

The water filter is designed to filter out impurities and make it safe to drink.

to say something suddenly

Startled by the unexpected news, she blurted out her immediate reaction.

to stand in a line or row extending in a single direction

The students lined up to get their lunch.

to spend much time in a specific place or with someone particular

We're going to hang out at the park this afternoon.

stem the flow of

to make something operate, especially by accident

Please don't set off the car alarm while I'm inside; the keys are on the seat.

(of a path or road) to split into another direction, creating a separate route

The highway branches off into smaller roads leading to nearby towns.

to fall or break into pieces as a result of being in an extremely bad condition

The neglected house, worn down by years of weathering, finally began to fall apart, with sections of the roof and walls collapsing.