Home Page >> Phrasal Verbs Index >> Verbs P-R >> Page Three

Phrasal Verbs P - R

This is the phrasal verb reference section. Here there are definitions and examples for hundreds of phrasal verbs found in English.

Don't forget we have a phrasal verb exercise page.

Pack
Pad
Pan
Paper
Part
Pass
Patch
Pay
Peg
Pick
Pig
Pipe
 Play
Plug
Point
Polish
Pop
Press
Pull
Push
Put
Rake
Range
Reach
 Read
Reckon
Rent
Ride
Ring
Rip
Roll
Root
Rub
Rule
Run

pig

Pig Out

(Informal) Eat greedily.
Don't pig out on the pizza! There are three other people arriving later.

pipe

Pipe Down

To be less noisy.
Pipe down Steve! I'm trying to work here.

Pipe Up

To speak, sing more loudly.
What's the answer Brian. Pipe up! I can't hear you!

play

Play At

1. Pretend to be something.
The boys are playing at soldiers.
2. Do an activity, especially in a foolish way.
What are you playing at Jenkins, get on with your work!

Play Down

Treat something as less important than it really is.
He tries to play down his importance to this company.

Play On

1. Continue playing.
Despite the heavy rain, the two tennis players played on.
2. Take advantage of something.
He played on her fear of flying to sell her an insurance policy.

Play Up

1. Be naughty, mess around.
The children have been playing up all day.
2. (Informal) Produce pain, work badly.
The TV is playing up again. I can't get Channel 2!
3. Treat something as more important than it really is.
Don't play up how ill you are. Go to work!

plug

Plug Away

(Informal) Continue working hard at something.
Keep plugging away and we may finish before the evening.

point

Point Out

Indicate.
I would like to point out the finer details of this painting.

polish

Polish Up

Improve something.
I went to New Zealand to try and polish up my English.

Polish Off

(Informal) Finish a meal quickly.
He polished off the chicken stew in just a few minutes.

pop

Pop In

Visit someone for a short time.
I popped in to see Marge yesterday.

Pop Out

Leave the house for a short time.
I am just popping out to get some sugar from the shops.

Pop Up

Spring up quickly.
As the holiday approached, a few problems began to pop up.

press

Press Ahead/On

Keep going, work with added determination.
Let's press ahead even without the boss's approval.

Press For

Demand action on something.
Many parents are pressing for tighter gun control laws.