English Literature and Culture

add up
add

back up
cause to move backwards; support

blow up
cause to explode; destroy by explosives

break down
analyze; list the parts of separately

bring about
cause to happen

bring off
accomplish

bring on
cause

bring out
publish; emphasize

bring over
bring

bring to
revive

bring up
raise; care for from childhood

brush out
brush the inside of

burn down
destroy by burning

burn up
consume by fire

buy out
by the other person's share of a business

buy up
buy the whole supply of

call off
cancel; order away

call up
telephone; summon for military service

calm down
become calm

carry on
continue

carry out
fulfill; complete; accomplish; perform

carry over
carry; continue at another time or place

cheer up
cause to become cheerful

chew up
chew thoroughly

chop up
chop into small pieces

clean off
clean the surface of

clean out
clean the inside of

clean up
clarify; tidy

clear out
clear the surface of

clear up
clear the inside of

close down
close permanently

close up
close temporarily

count in
include

count out
exclude

count up
calculate; count; add to a total

cross out
eliminate

cut off
interrupt; sever; amputate

cut out
eliminate; delete

cut down
reduce in quantity

draw up
write; compose (a document)

dress up
put clothes on; adorn

dust out
dust the inside of

eat up
eat completely

figure out
interpret; understand

figure up
compute

fill in
complete (a printed form)

fill out
complete (a printed form)

fill up
fill completely (a container)

find out
discover

fix up
repair; arrange in a suitable manner

get across
cause to be understood

give back
return

give out
distribute; announce

give up
surrender something

hand down
deliver; pronounce formally; leave as an inheritance

hand over
yield control of

hang up
suspend

have on
be dressed in

have over
entertain someone informally at one's home

hold off
delay; restrain

hold up
delay; rob; threaten with a weapon

keep up
continue; keep the same pace

leave out
omit

let down
disappoint

let out
release from confinement; make larger (in sewing)

light up
light; illuminate thoroughly

live down
live in such a way as to cause something to be forgotten

make over
remake

move over
move to the side

pass out
distribute

pass up
not take advantage of (as an opportunity)

pass on
transmit

pay back
repay

pay off
discharge a debt completely; give someone his final pay

pick up
come to meet an escort; lift with hands or fingers; learn casually;initiate an association publicly

play down
minimize

play up
emphasize

point out
indicate

pull down
pull in a downward direction; raze

push across
cause to be understood or accepted

put off
postpone

put on
dress in; deceive or fool

put up
preserve (food); receive as an overnight guest

quiet down
be quiet

ring up
the telephone

rinse off
rinse the surface of

rinse out
rinse the inside of

rule out
eliminate

run down
trace; disparage; hit with a vehicle

run off
cause to depart; reproduce mechanically

save up
accumulate

see through
complete; in spite of difficulties

see off
accompany someone to the beginning of a trip

send back
send to a place where formerly located

send over
send to where someone is

set up
arrange

show off
exhibit ostentatiously

shut off
cause to cease functioning

slow up
cause to move more slowly

spell out
enumerate; state in detail

stand up
fail to keep an appointment with

sweep out
sweep the inside of

take back
return; retract a statement

take down
remove from a high position; write from dictation

take in
understood; fool; deceive; make smaller (in sewing)

take over
take; assume command of

tear down
destroy

tear up
tear into small pieces

tell off
scold; reprimand

think over
consider

think through
consider from beginning to end

think up
create; invent

throw away
discard

throw over
reject

tie up
tie securely or tight

tire out
cause to be exhausted

touch up
repair

try on
put on a garment to verify the fit

try out
test

turn down
refuse; lower the volume

turn out
produce; force into exile, extinguish (a light)

wash off
wash the surface of

wash out
wash the inside of

wear out
use until no longer usable; tire greatly

wind up
finish, tighten the spring of a watch or machine

wipe off
wipe the surface of

wipe out
wipe the inside of; decimate

work out
solve

write down
record

write out
write down every detail; spell out

write up
compose; prepare (a document)