Phrasal verbs starting with:
A--B--C--D
D
Choose a phrasal verb and click on it to
go directly to the explanation and example.
Dash off (insep), Dash smth off
Dawn on smb
Die away, Die down (insep),
Die out(insep)
Dig smth over, Dig smth up
Do away with smth, Do smth up
Doss down (insep)
Doze off (insep)
Drag on (insep), Drag smth up
Draw up (insep), Draw smth up
Dredge smth up
Dress up (insep)
Drop in (on smb), Drop off (insep),
Drop smb off, Drop out (insep)
Drum smth up
Dash off (insep)
MEANING: to leave in a hurry
EXAMPLE:
I must dash off; I'm already late.
He dashed off before I could talk to him.
Dash smth off
MEANING: write it in a hurry (letter, note, email)
EXAMPLE:
Feel free to dash off an email to us at any time.
Dawn on smb
MEANING: to suddenly begin to understand smth
EXAMPLE:
It dawned on me that something unusual was going on.
The truth finally dawned on him.
Die away
MEANING: to gradually becomes weaker until it disappears; it fades
(noise, sound, voice, light, breeze)
EXAMPLE:
The strange noise finally died away.
Die down (insep)
MEANING: to become quieter or less noticeable (applause, gossip,
rumours, wind, storm, flames, fire, pain, excitement, scandal)
EXAMPLE:
The wind's died down at last.
The rumours will soon die down.
Die out (insep)
MEANING: (custom, tradition, habit, idea, race, species) to gradually
disappear
EXAMPLE:
Many Indian communities are dying out.
The Panda is in danger of dying out.
Dig smth over
MEANING: to break the ground into smaller pieces with a spade or fork
so that plants can grow (soil, patch, garden, flowerbed)
EXAMPLE:
He spent the morning digging over the vegetable patch.
Dig smth up
MEANING: 1) When you dig smth up, you search for it and find it
(scandal, the past, idea, excuse, facts, information)
2 When you dig smth up, you remove it from the ground using a fork or
spade
EXAMPLE:
If you dig up potatoes and the skin rubs off easily, they need more
time to mature.
Do away with smth
MEANING: to abolish (law, privilege, rule, regulation, paperwork, tax)
When an organizations does away with smth, they get rid of it.
EXAMPLE:
The death penalty has been done away with in many countries.
They should do away with all that paperwork.
Do smth up
MEANING: 1 (flat, building, cottage, room) When you do smth up, you
repair and decorate it
2 (button, coat, dress, trousers, zip) When you do smth up, you fasten
it
EXAMPLE:
1. I spent a month doing up the flat and I think it's quite nice now.
2. Her hair was done up in a neat bun at the back of her head.
Doss down (insep)
MEANING: When you doss down somewhere, you sleep there temporarily or
you sleep there instead of going home
EXAMPLE:
If you can find another blanket I'll just doss down on the sofa.
Doze off (insep)
MEANING:) When you doze off, you fall into a light sleep
EXAMPLE:
Judy dozed off while she was watching television.
Drag on (insep)
MEANING: When smth drags on, it's very slow and lasts longer than
necessary
EXAMPLE:
Legal battles are agonizingly slow and costly, and the appeals process
can drag on for years.
Drag smth up
MEANING: (story, incident) to mention some unpleasant fact from the
past
EXAMPLE:
This is all in the past. Why are you bringing it all up now?
Draw up (insep)
MEANING: When a vehicle draws up, it gets closer to a place and stops
EXAMPLE:
A convoy of buses drew up at the airport and they all climbed on
board.
Draw smth up
MEANING: (list, plan, document, proposal, contract, will) to prepare
something very carefully in writing
EXAMPLE:
The Metropolitan Police force is drawing up plans to recruit more
ethnic minority officers from overseas.
Dredge smth up
MEANING: (scandal, the past, memory, old grivances, quarrel, filth,
mistake, misdeeds, story) When you dredge smth up, you remind smb of
unpleasant events in the past: Same meaning as dig smth up, rake smth
up
EXAMPLE:
He is always trying to dredge up something about the politician’s
private life.
Dress up (insep)
MEANING: to put on better clothes for a special occasion. Opposite of
“Dress down”
EXAMPLE:
He didn't dress up for the occasion at all, wearing an orange baseball
cap, baggy khakis, and an oversized black sweater.
Drop in (on smb)
MEANING: to pay somebody a short visit without warning . “Call in, pop
in”
EXAMPLE:
I thought I'd dropped in and say hello.
Drop in to see us next time you're in town.
Drop off (insep)
MEANING: 1 When you drop off, you fall asleep (Doze off)
2 (attendance, numbers, membership, interest, support, traffic,
temperatures) When smth drops off, it becomes less or fewer (Fall off)
EXAMPLE:
The girl was so tired that she dropped off to sleep at once.
Unfortunately, attendance has dropped off over the last few months.
Temperatures will drop off quickly as northwest winds strengthen.
Drop smb off
MEANING: When you drop smb off, you stop the vehicle you are driving
to leave a passenger someplace (Let smb off)
EXAMPLE:
Come on. I'll drop you off at your flat.
Drop out (insep)
MEANING: to leave school or a course without finishing it
EXAMPLE:
He dropped out of the course after finding the study program very
difficult.
Drum smth up
MEANING: to try to make people interested in smth (support,
enthusiasm, interest, business, trade)
EXAMPLE:
The State Governor is about to go on a tour of the state to drum up support for his reform policy.
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