What are the most common English phrasal verbs for daily conversations? How and when should you use them? Stay with us in this lesson to get the answers to these questions!
First, let’s review what phrasal verbs are:
Phrasal verbs are like special pairs of words that work together to create a new meaning. They usually have two parts:
- A verb (an action word, like “run” or “look”).
- A little word called a particle (like “up,” “out,” or “in”).
When you put these two parts together, they often make a whole new meaning that’s different from the original verb. For example:
- “Give up” means to stop trying.
- “Look after” means to take care of someone.
The importance of using English phrasal verbs for daily conversations are as follows:
- Express More Ideas: Phrasal verbs let you say things in a more interesting way. Instead of just “stop,” you can say “give up,” which sounds more vivid.
- Understand Others: Many people use phrasal verbs in everyday conversations. If you know them, you’ll understand what people mean when they say things like “hang out” (spend time together) or “run into” (meet by chance).
- Sound Natural: Using phrasal verbs makes your speech sound more natural and fluent, like a native speaker. For example, “turn on” sounds more natural than “activate” when talking about a light or a TV.
- Be More Specific: Phrasal verbs can be more precise. “Turn off” specifically tells you to stop something from working, like a device, which is clearer than just saying “stop.
In this lesson, we are going to learn 21 phrasal verbs used in our daily conversations:
Bring sth up
Meaning: To start talking about something.
Example: He’s always bringing up the past.
Cheer on: Of phrasal verbs for daily conversations
Meaning: To encourage or support someone, usually with shouts.
Example: We arrived to cheer on the baseball team from our town in the championship game.
Cheer up
Meaning: To improve one’s mood, especially when someone is sad.
Example: Cheer up! Tomorrow’s another day!
Get across
Get across is also in the list of phrasal verbs for daily conversations that means:
Meaning: To manage to make someone understand or believe something.
Example: We tried to get our point across, but he just wouldn’t listen.
Let on
Meaning: To tell other people about something that you know, especially when it is a secret.
Example: If you know an important secret, you shouldn’t let on.
Jump in : Of phrasal verbs for daily conversations
Meaning: To interrupt when someone else is speaking.
Example: Why are you constantly jumping in my speech? Would you please let me finish my sentences?
Butt in
Meaning: To interrupt a conversation or discussion or someone who is talking.
Example: He kept on butting in with silly comments.
Bump into
Meaning: To meet someone you know when you have not planned to meet them.
Example: We bumped into Amy when we were downtown last week.
Read more: What are the traveling phrasal verbs in English?
Grapple with something
Meaning: To try to deal with or understand a difficult problem or subject.
Example: Today, many Americans are still grappling with poverty.
Pull sth off
Another item of the phrasal verbs for daily conversations is pulls sth of that means:
Meaning: To succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected.
Example: The company has pulled off one of the biggest financial problems of recent years.
Now let’s review these phrasal verbs in this conversation
Alex: Hey, Sam, have you heard about the new policy changes at work?
Sam: No, I haven’t. Can you bring it up during our meeting later? I’m curious.
Alex: Sure. Also, did you bump into Jerry this morning? He seemed upset.
Sam: Yeah! He’s grappling with some project issues, it seems.
Alex: That’s tough. We should cheer him on; he might need some encouragement to get through this.
Sam: Good idea. Oh, and about the charity marathon, are you still planning to run?
Alex: Absolutely, I hope to pull it off! I’ve been training every weekend.
Sam: I admire your dedication. Running isn’t really my thing.
Alex: Come on, it might cheer you up to participate. Plus, it’s for a good cause.
Sam: Maybe you’re right. I’ll think about it.
Blurt out
Meaning: To say something suddenly and without thinking, usually because you are excited or nervous.
Example: He blurted out everything out about our secret plan.
Dry up
Meaning: To stop being available.
Example: Our main source of money has dried up and we will face a lot of problems.
Throw away: Of phrasal verbs for daily conversations
Meaning: To get rid of something that you no longer need.
Example: Let’s throw away all broken toys to clear a space for new ones.
Get (something) through (to someone)
Meaning: To succeed in making someone understand or believe something.
Example: We can’t get through to the manager just how serious the problem is!
Talk sth over (talk an issue/a plan over)
Meaning: To discuss a problem or situation with someone, often to find out their opinion or to get advice before making a decision.
Example: Employees had two weeks to talk the proposal over with their families before making a decision.
Talk someone around
Meaning: To persuade someone to agree or to be persuaded.
Example: He just kept talking around the subject and didn’t discuss the main issues.
Carry on
Meaning: To continue or proceed.
Example: Sorry for the interruptions, please carry on with your story.
Shut down
Meaning: If a business or a large piece of equipment stops operating.
Example: The manager has a plan to shut down four factories and cut 10,000 jobs.
Back up
Meaning: To support.
Example: Our plan is completely backed up by the manager.
Fall back on sth
Meaning: To use something to help when other things have failed.
Example: Jacob always has his professional experience to fall back on.
Give away: Of phrasal verbs for daily conversations
Meaning: To give something to someone for free.
Example: The company gave away a lot of coupons that could be used at any store.
Read more: What are the relationship phrasal verbs in English?
Let’s review the other mentioned phrasal verbs for daily conversations in this conversation:
Mia: I heard the café down the street is going to shut down. Have you heard about it?
Jake: Really? No, that’s news to me. It’s always dried up by the time I get there after work, but I didn’t think they’d close for good.
Mia: Yeah, it’s a shame. But on a brighter note, did you manage to get through to the customer service about the refund?
Jake: Oh, yes, finally. After several attempts, they understood the issue and processed it. By the way, have you seen the new fitness app? It’s backed up by some impressive research.
Mia: No, I haven’t. Sounds interesting. I need something new to fall back on now that my gym membership is ending.
Jake: I’ll send it across to you. It might give away some free subscription codes if you sign up now.
Mia: That would be great, thanks! Oh, and speaking of giving away, are you still giving away those old books?
Jake: Yes, I’m planning to. I thought it would be better than just throwing them away. Want to come over and see if there’s anything you’d like?
Mia: Absolutely, I might find a quick snack for my brain among those books. And, hey, we should talk over our plans for the hiking trip this weekend. I’m all for a slap-up meal afterwards.
Jake: Agreed, nothing like a good meal to cheer up after a day’s hike. Let’s plan it out.
Now let’s learn other useful phrasal verbs for speaking:
Catch up
One of the common and useful phrasal verbs for speaking is “catch up” that means:
Meaning: To get up to date with someone or something.
When you’ve been away on vacation and you have a lot of emails waiting for you, you need to “catch up” on your emails.
Example: I need to catch up on my emails after being on vacation.
Turn down (Of useful phrasal verbs for speaking)
Meaning: To refuse or reject something.
If someone offers you a job but you don’t accept it because the salary isn’t enough, you “turn down” the job offer. You’re refusing or saying no to the job opportunity.
Example: She turned down the job offer because it didn’t pay enough.
Run into
Meaning: To unexpectedly encounter someone or something.
If you unexpectedly see an old friend while you’re shopping, you “run into” them. you didn’t plan to meet them.
Example: I ran into an old friend at the grocery store yesterday.
Come across
Another useful phrasal verbs for speaking is come across. This phrasal verb means:
Meaning: To find or meet by chance.
When you’re browsing the internet and you find an interesting article, you “come across” it. You look for something but find something else!
Example: I came across this interesting article while browsing the internet.
Bring up (Of useful phrasal verbs for speaking)
Meaning: To introduce a topic into conversation.
If there’s an important issue that needs to be discussed during a meeting, you should bring it up!
Example: I didn’t want to bring up the issue during the meeting.
Yesterday, I decided to catch up on my emails after being on vacation for a week. While going through my inbox, I ran into an old friend’s email, which I hadn’t seen in years. It was unexpected to come across his message among the others. Feeling nostalgic, I decided to bring up the idea of meeting for coffee!
Look forward to
This phrasal verb also in the list of useful phrasal verbs for speaking that means:
Meaning: To anticipate with pleasure.
When you’re excited about seeing someone again, like a friend you haven’t met in a long time, you “look forward to” meeting them. you feel happy about the upcoming event.
Example: I’m looking forward to seeing you again next week.
Speak up
Meaning: To talk louder or express your opinion more clearly.
Imagine sitting in a noisy classroom, and your teacher is asking a question. You want to answer, but your voice is quiet. You need to “speak up” so everyone can hear you.
Example: Can you speak up? I can’t hear you very well.
Put off
Meaning: To postpone or delay something.
Picture having homework to do, but you want to play outside instead. You decide to play first and do your homework later. You “put off” doing your homework.
Example: They decided to put off their vacation until next year.
Hang out
Meaning: To spend time relaxing or socializing with friends.
Think about spending time with your friends at the park. You laugh, play games, and have fun together. This is what it means to “hang out” with friends.
Example: Let’s hang out at the park this weekend.
Go through
Meaning: To experience or endure a difficult situation.
Imagine feeling sad because your favorite toy broke. You’re feeling upset, but you know you’ll feel better soon. You’re experiencing the emotions of being sad and then feeling better. This is what it means to “go through” a tough time.
Example: She’s going through a tough time right now.
I’m really looking forward to the weekend when I can hang out with my friends at the park. Last time, we had to put off our gathering due to bad weather and I didn’t say anything, but this time I’ll speak up!
Watch this video and review the last phrasal verbs mentioned in this article
Don’t forget to review all these phrasal verbs and use them in your daily conversations. If you want to learn more about phrasal verbs in English, we recommend that you take our online general English course. Level up your English and speak like a native!
