act sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
1. to perform the actions and say the words of a situation or story
The children acted out their favourite poem.
act sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
2. to express your thoughts, emotions or ideas in your actions
Children's negative feelings often get acted out in bad behaviour.
add (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ]
to calculate the total of two or more numbers
If you add those four figures up, it comes to over £500.
She added the bill up.
I'm not very good at adding up!
ask sb in phrasal verb [ M ]
to invite someone to come into a building or room, especially your home
I'd ask you in for a coffee but I have to get up early for work in the morning.
ask sb out phrasal verb [ M ]
to invite someone to come with you to a place such as the cinema or a restaurant, especially as a way of starting a romantic relationship
She's asked Steve out to the cinema this evening.
You should ask her out sometime.
average sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to calculate the average of a set of numbers or amounts
If I average out what I earn a month, it's about one and a half thousand pounds.
back sb up phrasal verb [ M ]
1. to support or help someone
My family backed me up throughout the court case.
back sb up phrasal verb [ M ]
2. to say that someone is telling the truth
Honestly, that's exactly what happened - Claire will back me up.
Will you back me up if I say that I never saw him?
back sth up phrasal verb [ M often passive ]
1. to prove something is true
His claims are backed up by recent research.
back sth up phrasal verb [ M often passive ]
2. to make an extra copy of computer information
Make sure you back up your files.
back (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ]
to drive backwards
bail sth out , UK also bale sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to remove water from the bottom of a boat
bail sth out , UK also bale sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to remove water from the bottom of a boat
bail sb/sth out , UK also bale sb out phrasal verb [ M ]
to help a person or organization that is in difficulty, usually by giving or lending them money
She keeps running up huge debts and asking friends to bail her out.
bail sb/sth out , UK also bale sb out phrasal verb [ M ]
to help a person or organization that is in difficulty, usually by giving or lending them money
She keeps running up huge debts and asking friends to bail her out.
bail sb out phrasal verb [ M ]
to pay money to a court so that someone can be released from prison until their trial
balance (sth) out/up phrasal verb [ M ]
to be equal in amount or value, or to make things equal in amount or value
We'd better ask a few men to the party to balance up the numbers.
I spend a lot one month and not so much the next and in the end it balances out.
balls (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ] UK offensive
to spoil something by making a mistake or doing something stupid
Trust me to balls up the interview!
ˌ bandy sth a ˈ bout/a ˈ round phrasal verb [ M ]
to mention something often, without considering it carefully
Large figures were bandied about, but no money was ever paid.
bang sb up phrasal verb [ M ] slang
to lock someone up, especially in prison
She's terrified of him and won't make a statement until we've got him banged up in the cells.
bawl sb out phrasal verb [ M ] US informal
to tell someone angrily that something they have done is wrong
He's always bawling out people in meetings.
bear sb/sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to support the truth of something
His version of events just isn't borne out by the facts.
If you tell them what happened I will bear you out ( on it).
beat sth/sb back phrasal verb [ M ]
If you beat back someone or something dangerous, you use force to move them away from you
Riot police beat back the crowds of demonstrators.
beat sb down phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to persuade someone to accept a lower amount of money for something
He wanted £50 for the bike, but I managed to beat him down to £35.
beat sb off phrasal verb [ M ]
to manage to defeat someone who is attacking you
She beat off her attacker by hitting him with her handbag.
figurative The company managed to beat off the competition and secure the contract.
beat sth out phrasal verb [ M ] MUSIC
1. to make sounds that have a particular rhythm by hitting something such as a drum
The drummer beat out a steady rhythm while we marched.
beat sth out phrasal verb [ M ] FIRE
2. to make a fire go out by hitting it repeatedly with an object, such as a large piece of cloth
She beat the flames out with her bare hands.
beat sb out phrasal verb [ M ] mainly US
to defeat someone or do better than them in a competition, sport or business
They beat out several other rivals for the contract.
beat sb up phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to hurt someone badly by hitting or kicking them again and again
He claims he was beaten up by the police.
bed sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to move young or delicate plants from inside and plant them outside
May is the time to bed out the geraniums.
beef sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to make something stronger or more important
We need to find some new players to beef up the team.
The company has plans to beef up its production.
Your report on the new car park is fine, but why don't you beef it up a bit with some figures?
belt sth out phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to sing or play a musical instrument very loudly
The band was belting out all the old favourites.
big sb/sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to talk a lot about how excellent someone or something is, sometimes praising them or it more than is deserved
bite sth back phrasal verb [ M ] UK
to stop yourself from saying something or from expressing an emotion
bite back tears/laughter
black sth out phrasal verb [ M ] COVER
1. to cover a face or a name so that it cannot be seen
In the TV interview, they blacked out the victim's face.
black sth out phrasal verb [ M ] NO LIGHT
2. to make a place dark, especially by covering or switching off all the lights
The entire city was blacked out overnight.
blank sth out phrasal verb [ M ] COVER
1. to intentionally cover over something that is written so that it cannot be read
Some of the names in the report have been blanked out.
blank sth out phrasal verb [ M ] FORGET
2. to stop yourself thinking about a memory because it is unpleasant and you would prefer not to remember it
There may be traumatic incident in your past that you have blanked out.
block sth in phrasal verb [ M ]
to put a vehicle so close to another vehicle that it cannot drive away
Another car had parked behind me and blocked me in.
block sth off phrasal verb [ M ]
to close a road, path or entrance so that people cannot use it
All the roads out of the town had been blocked off by the police.
block sth out phrasal verb [ M ] STOP FROM PASSING
1. to stop light or noise from passing through something
The tree outside the window blocks out the sun.
block sth out phrasal verb [ M ] STOP FROM THINKING
2. to stop yourself from thinking about an unpleasant memory because it upsets you
He's trying to block out memories of the accident.
block sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to fill a narrow space with something so that nothing can pass through
In autumn, leaves block the drains up.
blot sth out phrasal verb [ M ] SUN
1. to hide or block the light from something, especially the sun
A dark cloud suddenly blotted out the sun.
blot sth out phrasal verb [ M ] MEMORY
2. to stop yourself, or to prevent you, thinking about something unpleasant
Perhaps there are some memories so bad that you have to blot them out.
blow sb away phrasal verb KILL
2. [ M ] US informal to kill a person by shooting them
blow sb/sth away phrasal verb [ M ] US informal
to defeat someone or something completely, especially in a sports competition
They blew the other team away in the second half of the game.
ˌ blow sth/sb ˈ off phrasal verb [ M ] US
to treat something or someone as if they are not important
Just blow off his comments, he's only joking.
blow (sth) out phrasal verb [ M ]
If a flame blows out or you blow it out, it stops burning when a person or the wind blows on it
After dinner she blew out the candles.
The sudden breeze made the candles blow out.
blow sb out phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to disappoint someone by not meeting them or not doing something that you had arranged to do with them
She was supposed to go to that party with me, but she blew me out.
blow (sb/sth) up phrasal verb [ M ]
to destroy something or kill someone with a bomb, or to be destroyed or killed by a bomb
They threatened to blow up the plane if their demands were not met.
He drove over a landmine and his jeep blew up.
blow sth up phrasal verb [ M ] FILL WITH AIR
1. to fill something with air
Would you help me blow up these balloons?
blow sth up phrasal verb [ M ] PHOTO
2. to print a photograph or picture in a larger size
blurt sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to say something suddenly and without thinking, usually because you are excited or nervous
He blurted everything out about the baby, though we'd agreed to keep it a secret for a while.
[ + speech ] She suddenly blurted out, "I can't do it".
[ + that ] Late one evening, Gianni blurted out that he loved her.
board sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to cover a door or window with wooden boards
Shopkeepers are boarding up their windows in case rioting breaks out.
boil (sth) down phrasal verb [ M ]
to heat a liquid or food so that part of it is turned into gas and its amount is reduced
ˌ boil sth ˈ down phrasal verb [ M ]
to reduce information, usually so that it contains only its most important parts
He had boiled down a lengthy report to just a few paragraphs.
boil sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to heat up liquid or food in a pan until it boils
Could you boil some water up for me?
bollocks sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to spoil something by making mistakes
They completely bollocksed up the game.
Try not to bollocks it up this time!
bottle sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
When a person bottles things up, they refuse to talk about things that make them angry or worried.
bowl sb out phrasal verb [ M ]
in the game of cricket, to make someone have to leave the cricket field by hitting the wicket (= three vertical sticks) behind them with the ball
box sb/sth in phrasal verb [ M often passive ]
to move so close to someone or something that they cannot move away
When I got back to my car, I found it had been boxed in by a lorry.
box sb in phrasal verb [ M often passive ]
to prevent someone from doing what they want to do
She did not want to send her son to a school where he would be boxed in by so many rules and regulations.
brazen sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to act confidently and not admit that a problem exists
I decided to brazen it out and hoped they wouldn't notice the scratch on the car.
break sb in phrasal verb [ M ]
If you break someone in, you train them to do a new job or activity
The boss did not believe in breaking his staff in gently .
break sth in phrasal verb [ M ]
1. to wear new shoes or use new equipment for short periods to make them more comfortable
My new hiking boots will be great once I've broken them in.
break sth in phrasal verb [ M ]
2. US for run sth in
break sth off phrasal verb [ M ] SEPARATE
1. to separate a part from a larger piece, or to become separate
He broke off a piece of chocolate.
break sth off phrasal verb [ M ] RELATIONSHIP
2. to end a relationship
They've broken off their engagement.
The governments have broken off diplomatic relations.
break sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to divide into many pieces, or to divide something into many pieces
The company has been broken up and sold off.
break (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ]
If an occasion when people meet breaks up or someone breaks it up, it ends and people start to leave
The meeting broke up at ten to three.
I don't want to break up the party but I have to go now.
brick up sth phrasal verb [ M ]
to build a wall of bricks around something, or to fill something with bricks
The doors and windows had been bricked up to prevent squatters from getting in.
bring sth about phrasal verb [ M ]
to cause something to happen
He brought about his company's collapse by his reckless spending.
bring sb around phrasal verb [ M ]
mainly US for bring sb round
bring sth back phrasal verb [ M ] RETURN
1. to return from somewhere with something
[ + two objects ] Can you bring me back some milk?
bring sth back phrasal verb [ M ] REMEMBER
2. to make someone think about something from the past
The photos brought back some wonderful memories.
bring sth back phrasal verb [ M ] DO AGAIN
3. to start to do or use something that was done or used in the past
Few politicians are in favour of bringing back the death penalty.
bring sb down phrasal verb [ M ]
to cause someone in a position of power to lose their job
This scandal could bring down the government.
bring sth down phrasal verb [ M ]
to reduce the level of something
They've really brought down the price of DVD players.
bring sth forward phrasal verb [ M ] mainly UK
to change the date or time of an event so that it happens earlier than planned
The elections were brought forward by three months.
bring sth in phrasal verb [ M ] INTRODUCE
1. to introduce something new such as a product or a law
New safety regulations have been brought in.
bring sth in phrasal verb [ M ] MONEY
2. to make money
Their chain of pubs and restaurants brings in millions of pounds a year.
bring sb in phrasal verb [ M ]
to ask someone to do a particular job
We need to bring in an expert to deal with this problem.
bring sth off phrasal verb [ M ]
to succeed in doing something difficult
It was an important event, and she's managed to bring it off brilliantly.
bring sth on phrasal verb [ M ]
1. to make something happen, usually something bad
The loud music brought on another one of his headaches.
bring sb out phrasal verb [ M ] UK
to make a shy person happier and more confident
Paulo's very shy - he needs bringing out.
bring sth out phrasal verb [ M ] PRODUCE
1. to produce something to sell to the public
They keep bringing out smaller phones.
bring sth out phrasal verb [ M ] MAKE NOTICEABLE
2. to make a particular quality or detail noticeable
A crisis can bring out the best and the worst in people.
The seasoning really brings out the flavour of the meat.
bring sb up phrasal verb [ M ]
to care for a child until it is an adult, often giving it particular beliefs
She was brought up by her grandmother.
They brought her up (as/to be) a Catholic.
[ + to infinitive ] David was brought up to respect authority.
bring sth up phrasal verb [ M ] TALK
1. to start to talk about a particular subject
She's always bringing up her health problems.
bring sth up phrasal verb [ M ] VOMIT
2. UK informal to vomit something
She was crying so much I thought she'd bring up her breakfast.
brush sb/sth aside phrasal verb [ M ]
to refuse to consider something seriously because you feel that it is not important
She brushed their objections aside, saying "Leave it to me."
brush sb/sth off phrasal verb [ M ]
to remove dust or dirt from someone or something by using your hands or a brush
He brushed the snow off his coat.
brush sth off phrasal verb [ M ]
to refuse to listen to what someone says, or to refuse to think about something seriously
He just brushed off all their criticisms.
bugger sth up phrasal verb [ M ] UK offensive
to damage something or cause problems by doing something stupid
Mike's buggered up the video again.
build (sb/sth) up phrasal verb [ M ]
to increase or become larger or stronger, or to cause someone or something to do this
Tension is building up between the two communities.
They gave him soup to build up his strength /build him up.
It took her ten years to build up her publishing business.
build sth/sb up phrasal verb [ M ]
to praise something or someone in a way which will influence people's opinions
For weeks the media has been building up the national basketball team.
bulk sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to make something bigger or thicker by adding something
I added some potatoes to the stew to bulk it out.
bump sb off phrasal verb [ M ] slang
to murder someone
bump sth up phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to increase the amount or size of something
The distributors will probably bump up the price of the software when the next version is released.
bunch (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ]
If material bunches up, or if someone bunches it up, it moves into tight folds
Your shirt's all bunched up at the back.
bundle ( sb ) up phrasal verb [ M ]
to put warm clothes on yourself or someone else
The kids were bundled up in coats and scarves.
bundle sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to tie a number of things together
bung sth up phrasal verb [ M ] UK informal
to cause something to be blocked so that it does not work in the way it should
The toilet was bunged up with paper.
burn (sth) down phrasal verb [ M ]
to destroy something, especially a building, by fire, or to be destroyed by fire
He tried to burn down the school by setting fire to papers on a noticeboard.
burn sth off/up phrasal verb [ M ]
to use or get rid of energy or fat by doing a lot of physical exercise
Running is an excellent way to burn off excess calories.
burn (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ]
to destroy something completely with fire or heat, or to be destroyed completely by fire or heat
Meteorites often burn up in the atmosphere before they reach the Earth.
butter sb up phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to be very kind or friendly to someone or try to please them, so that they will do what you want them to do
You'll have to butter them up a bit before they'll agree.
buy sth in phrasal verb [ M ] UK
to buy something for future use and not because you need it now
We bought in lots of tinned food in case of heavy snow.
buy sb off phrasal verb [ M ]
to pay someone so that they do not cause you any trouble
They tried to buy the guard at the bank off but he told the police and the gang were arrested.
buy sb out phrasal verb [ M ]
to buy a part of a company or building from someone else so that you own all of it
Allied Chemicals have been trying to buy out their competitor's share in the target company.
buy sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
To buy something up is to buy large amounts of it, or all that is available
He bought up all the land in the surrounding area.
call sb in phrasal verb [ M ]
to ask someone to come to help in a difficult situation
A new team of detectives were called in to conduct a fresh inquiry.
call sth in phrasal verb [ M ]
If a bank calls in money, it demands that you pay back the money it has lent to you
He needs to make the business work before the bank calls in the loan.
call sth off phrasal verb [ M ]
to decide that a planned event, especially a sports event, will not happen, or to end an activity because it is no longer useful or possible
Tomorrow's match has been called off because of the icy weather.
The police have called off the search for the missing child until dawn tomorrow.
call sb/sth off phrasal verb [ M ]
to order a dog, or sometimes a person, to stop attacking someone or something
I shouted to him to call his dog off, but he just laughed at me.
Call off your thugs, and I'll show you where the money is.
call sb up phrasal verb TELEPHONE
1. [ M ] mainly US to telephone someone
My dad called me up to tell me the good news.
call sb up phrasal verb MILITARY
2. [ M usually passive ] to order someone to join a military organization or to ask someone to join an official, especially national, team
He was called up when the war began.
Lucie Saint was called up for the final against Brazil.
call sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to find and show information on a computer screen
You can use the search facility to call up all the occurrences of a particular word in a document.
calm ( sb ) down [ M ]
to stop feeling upset, angry or excited, or to stop someone feeling this way
[ R ] She sat down and took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
She was angry at first but we managed to calm her down.
Calm down, for goodness sake. It's nothing to get excited about!
cancel sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to remove the effect of one thing by doing another thing which has the opposite effect
This month's pay cheque will cancel out his debt, but it won't give him any extra money.
carry sb away phrasal verb
2. [ M ] to cause someone to become very excited and to lose control
The crowd were carried away by his passionate speech.
carry sth forward/over phrasal verb [ M ]
to include an amount of money in a later set of calculations
The balance in our account for June includes £5000 carried over from May.
carry sth off phrasal verb [ M ]
to succeed in doing or achieving something difficult
I thought he carried off the part of Hamlet with great skill.
She was nervous about giving a talk to her colleagues, but she carried it off very well.
carry (sth) on phrasal verb [ M ]
to continue doing something, or to cause something to continue
Let's carry on this discussion at some other time.
Carry on the good work !
Sorry to interrupt, do carry on ( with what you were saying).
You just have to carry on as if nothing's happened.
[ + -ing verb ] Steve just carried on play ing on his computer.
Daphne is carrying on the family tradition by becoming a lawyer.
carry sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to do or complete something, especially that you have said you would do or that you have been told to do
Nigel is carrying out research on early Christian art.
The hospital is carrying out tests to find out what's wrong with her.
Our soldiers carried out a successful attack last night.
It is hoped that the kidnappers will not carry out their threat to kill the hostages.
Don't blame me, I'm only carrying out my orders/instructions.
carry sth over phrasal verb [ M ]
to use or do something at a later time than planned
The performance has had to be carried over to/till next week because the repairs to the theatre aren't finished yet.
carry (sth) over phrasal verb [ M ]
If something from one situation carries over or is carried over into another situation, it is allowed to exist in or affect the other situation
I try not to let my problems at work carry over into my private life.
carry sth through phrasal verb [ M ]
to complete something successfully
It is doubtful whether it will be possible to carry through the education reforms.
carve sth up phrasal verb [ M ] disapproving
to divide something into smaller parts
The Nazi-Soviet pact carved up the Baltic states in 1939.
cast sb/sth aside/off phrasal verb [ M ] formal
to get rid of someone or something
You must cast aside all thoughts of revenge.
cast sb/sth out phrasal verb [ M ] literary or old use
to get rid of someone or something, especially forcefully
Cast out by his family, he was forced to fend for himself.
catch sb out phrasal verb [ M ] informal SHOW WRONG
1. to show that someone is doing wrong
I suspected he wasn't telling me the truth, and one day I caught him out when I found some letters he'd written.
catch sb out phrasal verb [ M ] informal TRICK
2. to trick someone into making a mistake
The examiner will try to catch you out, so stay calm and think carefully before you speak.
catch sb out phrasal verb [ M ] informal CAUSE DIFFICULTY
3. to put someone in a difficult situation
A lot of people were caught out by the sudden change in the weather.
chalk sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to achieve something, such as a victory, or to score points in a game
Today's victory is the fifth that the Irish team has chalked up this year.
It was doubtful whether the Conservatives could chalk up a fourth successive election victory, but they did.
change sth round/around phrasal verb [ M ]
to move objects such as furniture into different positions
The room looks very different since you've changed the furniture round.
chase sb up phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to ask someone to do something that they have said they would do but that they have not yet done
If you don't hear from the builders this week, make sure you chase them up.
I must chase my flatmate up about those bills and see if she paid them.
chat sb up phrasal verb [ M ] UK informal
to talk to someone in a way that shows them that you are sexually attracted to them
He spent all evening chatting her up and buying her drinks.
check sth off phrasal verb [ M ] US
to mark names or things on a list as correct or as having been dealt with
He checked off their names on the list as they got on the coach.
check sth out phrasal verb [ M ] EXAMINE
1. informal to examine something or get more information about it in order to be certain that it is true, safe or suitable
We'll need to check out his story.
check sth out phrasal verb [ M ] GO TO SEE
2. informal to go to a place in order to see what it is like
I'm going to check out that new club.
check sth out phrasal verb [ M ] BORROW
3. mainly US to borrow books from a library
cheer sb on phrasal verb [ M ]
to shout loudly in order to encourage someone in a competition
As the runners went by, we cheered them on.
cheer (sb) up phrasal verb [ M ]
If someone cheers up, or something cheers them up, they start to feel happier
She was ill so I sent her some flowers to cheer her up.
He cheered up at the prospect of a meal.
Cheer up! It's not that bad!
[ R ] She went shopping to cheer herself up.
cheer sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to make a place look brighter or more attractive
A coat of paint and new curtains would really cheer the kitchen up.
cheese sb off phrasal verb [ M ] UK informal
to annoy someone
Her attitude to the whole thing really cheeses me off!
chew sb out phrasal verb [ M ] US informal
to tell someone angrily that they have done something wrong
The coach chewed his team out for playing so badly.
chew sth over phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to think about or discuss something carefully for a long time
I've been chewing the problem over since last week.
chew sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
If a machine chews up something that you have put inside it, it damages or destroys it
Your tape deck has chewed up my cassette!
chip (sth) in phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to give some money when several people are giving money to pay for something together
They all chipped in fifty pounds and bought their mother a trip to Greece.
choke sth back phrasal verb [ M ]
If you choke back feelings or tears, you force yourself not to show how angry or upset you are
Choking back my anger, I tried to speak calmly.
"John has had an accident, " she said, choking back the tears .
chop sth down phrasal verb [ M ]
to cut through something to make it fall down
Most of the diseased trees were chopped down last year.
chop sth off phrasal verb [ M ]
to cut off part of something with a sharp tool
Two of his fingers were chopped off in the accident.
chuck sth away/out phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to throw something away
I've chucked out all my old clothes.
chuck sth in phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to stop doing something which was a regular job or activity
I've decided to chuck in my job.
chuck sb out phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to force someone to leave a place
He'd been chucked out of a club for fighting.
churn sth out phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to produce large amounts of something quickly, usually something of low quality
The factory churns out thousands of pairs of these shoes every week.
She churns out a new bestselling novel every year.
claw sth back phrasal verb [ M ]
1. to get possession of something again with difficulty
The airline is beginning to claw back some of the business it lost after the bomb explosion.
claw sth back phrasal verb [ M ]
2. mainly UK If the government, for example, claws back money, it takes money back in one way that it has already given in another way
We got a government grant for setting up our business, but they clawed it all back again in taxes.
clean sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to take everything out of a room, car, container, etc. and clean the inside of it
I found these photos while I was cleaning out my cupboards.
clean sb/sth out phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to use or steal all of someone's money or goods
Buying our new house has completely cleaned us out.
Richard came home for the weekend and completely cleaned us out of food.
The burglars cleaned out the shop.
clean (sb/sth) up phrasal verb [ M ]
to make a person or place clean and tidy
We'll go out as soon as I've cleaned up the kitchen.
I need to clean up (= clean myself or the place where I am) before we go out.
[ R ] Clean your self up a bit before dinner.
clean (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ] slang
to win a lot of money
We cleaned up at the poker table last night.
clean sth up phrasal verb [ M ] CRIME
1. to stop illegal or dishonest activity in a place or organization
We need a mayor who is tough enough to clean up this town.
clean sth up phrasal verb [ M ] BAD BEHAVIOUR
2. to stop or limit the violence, sex or bad behaviour shown or contained in programmes or books, magazines, etc., to make them more acceptable
Some people think that television should be cleaned up.
clear sth away phrasal verb [ M ]
to make a place tidy by removing things from it or putting them where they should be
I want you to clear all these toys away before bedtime.
clear sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to tidy a place by getting rid of things that you do not want
If we clear out the spare room, you can use it as a study.
clear (sth) up phrasal verb TIDY
1. [ M ] mainly UK to make a place tidy by removing things from it or putting them where they should be
Dad was clearing up in the kitchen.
I'm tired of always having to clear up after you (= tidy your things) .
clear sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to give or find an explanation for something, or to deal with a problem or argument
They never cleared up the mystery of the missing money.
After twenty years, the case has finally been cleared up.
clock sth up phrasal verb [ M ] mainly UK informal
to win or achieve a large number of similar things
The Australians have clocked up three gold medals and two silvers in the swimming events.
close (sth) down phrasal verb [ M ]
If a business or organization closes down or someone closes it down, it stops operating
All the mines in this area were closed down in the 80's.
Our local butcher is closing down.
close sth off phrasal verb [ M ]
to put something across the entrance of a place to stop people from entering
Police quickly closed off the area.
clue sb in phrasal verb [ M ] US ( UK clue sb up )
to give someone information that is necessary or new
He'd been out of the country for weeks, so I clued him in on all that's been happening.
clue sb in phrasal verb [ M ] US ( UK clue sb up )
to give someone information that is necessary or new
He'd been out of the country for weeks, so I clued him in on all that's been happening.
cobble sth together phrasal verb [ M ]
to do or make something quickly and not very carefully
I just had to cobble this meal together from what I had in the fridge.
cock sth up phrasal verb [ M ] UK slang
to do something wrong or badly
David cocked up the arrangements and we ended up missing the reception.
"How did the exam go?" "Terrible - I panicked and really cocked it up."
colour sth in phrasal verb [ M ]
to fill an area with colour using paint, coloured pencils, etc.
Rosie drew an elephant and coloured it in.
conjure sth up phrasal verb [ M ] THINK OF
1. to make a picture or idea appear in someone's mind
The glittering ceremony conjured up images of Russia's imperial past.
For some people, the word 'England' may still conjure up images of pretty gardens and tea parties.
conjure sth up phrasal verb [ M ] CREATE
2. to make something in a quick and clever way, especially food
How am I expected to conjure up a meal for six of his friends with almost nothing in the fridge?
conjure sb/sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to ask the spirit of a dead person or an imaginary being to appear, by using special words
contract sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to formally arrange for other people to do a particular job
The government contracted out hospital cleaning to private companies.
cook sth up phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to invent a story, plan, etc., usually dishonestly
She'd cooked up some weird scheme that was going to earn her a fortune.
I had to cook up an excuse about my car breaking down.
cool (sb/sth) down/off phrasal verb [ M ]
to become less hot, or to make someone or something become less hot
She waited until her coffee had cooled down before taking a sip.
We went for a swim to cool off.
cool (sb) down/off phrasal verb [ M ]
to stop feeling angry after an argument, or to stop someone else feeling angry after an argument
Leave her to cool off and then talk to her.
coop sb/sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to keep someone or something in a closed space
I feel like I've been cooped up in this flat for days.
copy sth down phrasal verb [ M ]
to write something that someone has said or written so that you can remember it
copy sb in phrasal verb [ M ]
to send someone a copy of an email that you are sending to someone else
I'll copy you in on all emails relating to the project.
copy sth out phrasal verb [ M ] UK
If you copy out a piece of writing, you write it out again on a piece of paper
Copy out the poem on page six.
cordon sth/somewhere off phrasal verb [ M ]
If people in authority, such as the police, cordon off a building or area, they put something around it in order to stop people from entering it
They've cordoned off the whole area because of a suspected bomb.
cork sth up phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to not allow yourself to express your anger, worry or sadness
cough sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to make something come out of your throat or lungs when you cough
Doctors were worried when she started to cough up blood.
cough (sth) up phrasal verb [ M ] slang
to produce money or information unwillingly
I've just had to cough up £40 for a parking fine.
count sb in phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to include someone in an activity or arrangement
"Do you want to come swimming tomorrow?" "Yes, count me in."
count sth out phrasal verb [ M ]
to count coins or notes one by one as you put them down
She counted out five crisp new $100 bills.
cover sth up phrasal verb [ M ]
to stop people discovering the truth about something bad
The company tried to cover up its employment of illegal immigrants.
crack (sb) up phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to suddenly laugh a lot, or to make someone suddenly laugh a lot
I took one look at her and cracked up.
There's something about that guy's face that just cracks me up.
cram sth down phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to eat a lot of something quickly
I just had time to cram down a few biscuits before we left.
crank sth out phrasal verb [ M ] US informal
to produce something with no special care or effort
Like clockwork, he cranks out a new book every year.
crank sth up phrasal verb [ M ] informal
to increase or improve something
crank up the volume/pressure
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