List of Phrasal Verbs beginning with A
Phrasal verbs starting with: A--B--C--D
A
Choose the phrasal verb and click on it to go directly to the explanation and example of this phrasal verb.
Answer back, Answer for, Answer to
Ask after, Ask about/around, Ask for, Ask in, Ask out, Ask over
MEANING: to accept or obey an agreement, rule, or decision
EXAMPLE:
"Staff who refused to abide by the new rules were fired."
" We are quite willing to abide by their decision, whatever it may be."
MEANING: American, informal to defeat someone.
EXAMPLE:
"We were aced out by a rival agency."
MEANING: Misbehave (for people); Not work properly (for machines).
EXAMPLE:
"My Mum had a difficult time. I was always acting up as a child."
"I guess I'd better get the television repaired. It's been acting up lately."
MEANING: Behave in a way that's like _____ .
EXAMPLE:
"What's wrong with him? He's acting like an idiot."
Note: This phrasal verb is very informal.
MEANING: Explain or give a reason for something.
EXAMPLE:
“The employee was sacked because she couldn’t account for the missing money from the cash register”
MEANING:
1. When you act something out, you perform it or make it into a play.
2. Express your feelings or ideas.
EXAMPLE:
1. “The script itself is well written and well acted out by the cast”
2. “He has become desperate and is acting out his frustration by behaving like an idiot.”
MEANING: Logically fit together.
EXAMPLE:
"His theory is hard to believe, but his research adds up."
Note: This phrasal verb is often negative.
"His theory seems, at first, to be plausible, but the facts in his research don't add up."
Add up (2. separable)
MEANING: Find the total of something.
EXAMPLE:
"What's the total of those bills? Could you add them up and see?"
MEANING: To total.
EXAMPLE:
"The bills add up to $65. That's more than I expected!"
Allow for (object)
MEANING: to consider or include something when you are making plans or judging a situation
EXAMPLE:
“Allowing for delays, we should reach our destination by 6 o’clock this evening”
MEANING: To reply rudely.
EXAMPLE:
“Don't answer back to your teacher!”
Answer for (object)
MEANING: to take responsibility for something wrong you have done.
EXAMPLE:
“The public had hoped to see the politician answer for his actions before a tribunal.
MEANING: If you answer to someone in a higher position, they are the person you have to explain your actions or decisions to.
EXAMPLE:
"We were living in a police state, where the police answered to no one."
MEANING: To fill in a form or write a formal letter asking for a job, permit, scholarship, loan or permission.
EXAMPLE:
“The professor applied for a job at the famous university”
Ask after (object)
MEANING: Inquire how someone is getting on, to ask for information about someone, especially about their health.
EXAMPLE:
“My aunt wrote to us asking after our Mum who is sick.”
"Tom was asking after our grandmother, who is sick in hospital."
Ask about/around (no object)
MEANING: to make inquiries
EXAMPLE:
“I asked around to see if anyone knew the address I was looking for.”
Ask for (object)
MEANING: To request something.
EXAMPLE:
“We stopped our car to ask for directions”
Ask in (object)
MEANING: to invite someone into your house, office etc.
EXAMPLE:
“The woman asked the door salesman in”
MEANING: Ask for a date.
EXAMPLE:
"Nancy has a new boy friend. Joe asked her out last night."
MEANING: Invite to your home.
EXAMPLE:
"I would like to ask our neighbours over tomorrow tonight for dinner. We haven't eaten together for a long time."
Arrive at (inseparable)
MEANING: to achieve an agreement or decision, especially after thinking about it or discussing it for a long time.
EXAMPLE:
"We discussed the matter at length but failed to arrive at a decision"
“It is hoped that after the discussions they will be able to arrive at an agreement."
Auction off (object)
MEANING: get rid of something by selling it at an auction.
EXAMPLE:
“We auctioned off our old furniture and got a great price”
Avail yourself of (object)
MEANING: to take the opportunity to use something, to improve your situation
EXAMPLE:
"As an employee I should avail myself of the opportunity to buy cheap shares in the company."
Average out (separable)
MEANING: to calculate the average of a set of numbers
EXAMPLE:
"When I average out what I spend on clothes it comes to about £50 a month."
Average out at (object)
MEANING: to have as the average number
EXAMPLE:
"My time off work this year averages out at two days a week."