VERBAL PHRASES

 Topic: VERBAL PHRASES
1. Account for - explain the cause of
Robert's illness accounts for his being underweight.
2. Ask for (something)- demand
The employees ask for more pay and shorter hours.
2. Ask for (somebody)- say that one wants to see or speak to somebody 
Go to the office and ask for my secretary. 
4. Back out - withdraw from an agreement or a promise 
He promised to help me, now he can't back out. 
5. Back up - support 
I shall back up my friend's call.
6. Bear out - support somebody, confirm something 
Have you a witness to bear out what you say?
They will bear me out in court.
7. Bear with - tolerate patiently 
You must bear with me a few days more.
8. Blow out - extinguish by blowing
When the door opened, the wind blew out the candle. 
9. Blow up - explode
Suddenly the bomb blew up. 
10. Break down - ruin, fail
His health broke down at an early age. 
11. Break in - enter by force 
The enemy broke in under cover of darkness. 
12. Break into - enter or open forcibly
The police broke into the house.
13. Break out - (of bad or violent events) start suddenly 
The fire broke out at midnight. 
14. Break up - end, disperse 
The school broke up for Diwali holidays last Tuesday. 
15. Break with - quarrel 
We should not break with our neighbours.
16. Bring about - cause something to happen
His folly has brought about his downfall. 
17. Bring down - cause to fall, lower
The price of wheat was brought down by import from Australia. 
18. Bring in - fetch 
This house brings in a monthly rent of Rs 1000.
19. Bring out - cause something to appear or open, publish 
We are soon bringing out a political magazine. 
20. Bring round - cause somebody to regain consciousness 
The injection soon brought the patient round. 
21. Bring up - raise, rear or educate
Lucy was brought up by nature. 
22. Call at - pay a visit
I will call at your place tomorrow. 
23. Call in - send for
Call in a doctor at once. 
24. Call off - cancel, withdraw  order to stop 
The strike was called off and everything was normal. 
25. Call on - pay a visit to
I call on my friend off and on.
26. Call for - require, demand,  need
The Principal called for the teacher's explanation. 
27. Care for - look after
He does not care for his wife.
28. Cary away - bear off
A wolf carried away the child 
29. Carry off - win
He carried off many prizes last year.
30. Carry on - continue (work or duty)
He couldn't carry on any longer.
31. Carry on with - continue 
The doctor told me to carry on with the treatment. 
32. Carry out - execute
Carry out the wishes of your parents. 
33. Clear off - go away
As soon as he saw the police he cleared off.
34. Clear up - make tidy and clean 
Please clear up the table before you leave. 
35. Come about - happen 
He couldn't explain how his friend's death came about. 
36. Come across - meet with 
I came across an old friend at shopping mall. 
37. Come down - fall
The price of many things have come down.
38. Come off - take place 
When is the wedding coming off?
39. Come on - to make haste
Come on, we'll be late for school. 
40. Come out - be published 
At last the result has come out.