annettepicconi
Professional Teacher
Phrasal Verbs beginning with the letter "B" <dl><dt>BACK AWAY</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to retreat backwards

The crowd backed away as the terrorist blew himself up.

</dd><dt>BACK DOWN</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to concede in a disagreement

The mugger backed down when he saw that Max was carrying a 9mm handgun.

</dd><dt>BACK UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to make copies of computer files just in case something happens to the original files

Please be sure to back up your files before you go home each day.

</dd><dt>BACK UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to help or support

I will back my friends up no matter what they do.

</dd><dt>BACK UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to go in reverse

When Steve passed the beautiful girl hitchhiking on the freeway, he immediately stopped the car, backed up, and offered her a ride.

</dd><dt>BAIL OUT</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to jump out of an airplane (usually when it?s going to crash)

Luckily the pilot bailed out before his plane hit the side of the mountain.

</dd><dt>BAIL OUT</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to quit or stop doing something (usually when experiencing difficulties)

The congressional candidate bailed out of the race because there was no hope that he could raise enough money to win.

</dd><dt>BAIL OUT</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to rescue someone from a difficult situation

Max?s uncle bailed him out of the <a id="FALINK_1_0_0" class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.eflnet.com/pverbs/pvlist.php?firstletter=B">financial problems</a> he was having.

</dd><dt>BALL UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to roll or form something into a round shape

When max does his laundry, instead of folding everything nicely when it?s done, he just balls everything up and throws it in a bag.

</dd><dt>BASH IN</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to damage something by hitting it violently

Vandals bashed in the windows of my new Lamborghini.

</dd><dt>BEAT UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to hurt someone by hitting and/or kicking them repeatedly

The bully beat the other kids up for their lunch money.

</dd><dt>BLACK OUT</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to lose consciousness momentarily

Max had a very severe headache and blacked out several times, so his doctor admitted him to the hospital.

</dd><dt>BLEND IN</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to match or look the same as the surroundings

In Max's neighborhood, if you don't blend in, you'll get beat up.

</dd><dt>BLOW OFF</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to remove with powerful force

The bomb blew the roof off the house.

</dd><dt>BLOW UP</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to suddenly become angry

The teacher blew up when she discovered that the students hadn't done their homework.

</dd><dt>BLOW UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to explode or to destroy something with an explosion

Mary was arrested for blowing up Max's car with a homemade bomb.

</dd><dt>BLOW UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to inflate

Al's job was to sell the balloons. Jim's job was to blow them up.

</dd><dt>BONE UP ON</dt><dd><em>(inseparable)</em>to review, study, or practice a subject for a short period of time

I need to bone up on my math as I have <a id="FALINK_2_0_1" class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.eflnet.com/pverbs/pvlist.php?firstletter=B">a university</a> entrance exam at the end of the month.

</dd><dt>BOSS AROUND</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to tell someone what to do repeatedly

Mary likes to boss people around.

</dd><dt>BREAK DOWN</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to stop functioning

John had to learn to become a good mechanic as his car was always breaking down.

</dd><dt>BREAK DOWN</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to lose control of one's emotions

Max broke down in tears when he heard that Mary had been arrested.

</dd><dt>BREAK IN</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to work or repeatedly use something so that it becomes comfortable or easily usable

Max's shoes hurt him as he had not yet broke them in.

</dd><dt>BREAK IN</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to forcibly enter a building

Max called the police when he thought he heard someone breaking in.

</dd><dt>BREAK INTO</dt><dd><em>(inseparable)</em>to forcibly enter

Mary broke into the car to steal the stereo.

</dd><dt>BREAK OUT</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to suddenly develop or erupt

A riot broke out in Los Angeles today.

</dd><dt>BREAK UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to cause to disperse or scatter

What time did the cops break the party up last night?

</dd><dt>BREAK UP (WITH)</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to end a relationship

Have Tom and Mary broken up yet? I'm thinking about asking Mary out on a date. The Beatles broke up a long time ago. Some people say that Yoko broke the band up. I'm going to break up with Mary. she bores me.

</dd><dt>BRING ABOUT</dt><dd><em>(inseparable)</em>to make happen

Max?s new girlfriend brought about some positive changes in his behavior.

</dd><dt>BRING AROUND</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to guide someone or convey something

I will bring the new intern around the office when she gets here.

</dd><dt>BRING AROUND</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to persuade, to cause to some on to do something through persuasion

Mary?s passionate speech brought Max around to donating to her organization.

</dd><dt>BRING DOWN</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to cause to fall

Michael Moore is hoping to bring the Bush administration down.

</dd><dt>BRING FORTH</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to produce or give rise to

The eager new intern brought forth many new ideas on how to run the company.

</dd><dt>BRING IN</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to arrest someone; to bring someone to the police station (usually for questioning)

The police brought Max in for robbing the bank.

</dd><dt>BRING IN</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to reach a verdict

The judge declared a mistrial because the jury could not bring in a verdict.

</dd><dt>BRING IN</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to earn money

Jill hates her new job, but she?s bringing in a lot of money.

</dd><dt>BRING ON</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to cause to appear

Bring on the birthday cake!

</dd><dt>BRING UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to raise or rear

Mowgli was a boy brought up by wolves.

</dd><dt>BRING UP</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to mention

When talking to Mary, Max never brings up her criminal record.

</dd><dt>BRUSH UP ON</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to practice; to improve your skill or knowledge

Max went back to school to brush up on mathematics.

</dd><dt>BURN DOWN</dt><dd><em>(separable)</em>to destroy by fire

Please don't smoke in bed for you may burn the house down.

</dd><dt>BUTT IN</dt><dd><em>(intransitive)</em>to enter a conversation uninvited

"Excuse me for butting in, but I couldn't help overhearing...

</dd></dl>
Feb 10, 2013 2:02 PM