Phrasal Verbs S
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.
send
Send Down
Send someone to prison.
The judge sent him down for ten years.
Send Off
1. Send a letter.
He sent off his application form for the job.
2. Say goodbye to someone at a station, airport.
All his friends went to the port to send him off.
Send On
Send letters to new address.
The letters will be sent on to you at your new house.
Send Up
Ridicule someone, something.
The comedian sent up the President and made everyone laugh.
set
Set About
Begin a job, task.
They set about cleaning the house with great enthusiasm.
Set Back
1. Cost.
The wedding set me back a huge amount of money.
2. Cause delay, problems.
The weather set the building work back by two days.
Set By
Use something to help you set a watch.
I always set my watch by Channel 2 news.
Set Down
Allow passenger to leave vehicle.
The driver set me down just outside the house.
Set In
Become established, likely to last a long time.
The snow has really set in now. We can't leave till tomorrow.
Set Off
1. Cause to explode.
The earthquake set off the old bomb.
2. Leave on a journey.
We have to set off tomorrow very early.
3. To make something more attractive by comparison.
Your dress really sets off your hair.
Set Up
1. Prepare.
They carefully set up the experiment.
2. Start a business.
This company was set up in 1955.
shake
Shake Off
Free self from something.
Thanks to all that vitamin C, he shook off his cold in just a day.
Shake Up
1. Disturb or shock someone.
The car crash really shook him up.
2. Get a person to perform, behave better.
Stopping all his privileges will shake him up a bit.
show
Show Off
Draw attention to self to impress people.
She often showed off about all her jewelry.
Show Through
To be visible under a cover.
That black bra shows through your blouse too much!
Show Up
1. (Informal) Arrive.
He showed up drunk and two hours late!
2. Embarrass.
You showed me up at that dinner last night.
shut
Shut Down
Stop production, working.
That factory shut down nearly five years ago.
Shut Off
Stop a supply of gas, water, etc.
Shut off the gas, otherwise it may explode.
Shut Out
Stop, block.
You need to shut out all memories of that accident.
Shut Up
Stop talking.
Can you shut your sister up. I can't hear the news.
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sign
Sign Away
Sign paper which gives possessions away.
He signed all his old cars over to his brother.
Sign Off
End a letter, TV program saying goodbye.
I would like to sign off by wishing you a wonderful evening.
Sign Up
Join something by signing a paper.
He has signed up to the army.
single
Single Out
Choose someone for special attention.
I was singled out for praise in front of the rest of the school.