Three-Word Phrasal Verbs (Transitive) <table class="shadow" width="600" border="6" cellpadding="6" bgcolor="white"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="3" bgcolor="green">Three-Word Phrasal Verbs (Transitive)
With the following phrasal verbs, you will find three parts: "My brother dropped out of school before he could graduate."</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="blue" width="75">Verb</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="blue" width="75">Meaning</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="blue" width="450">Example</td> </tr> <tr> <td>break in on</td> <td>interrupt (a conversation)</td> <td>I was talking to Mom on the phone when the operator broke in on our call.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>catch up with</td> <td>keep abreast</td> <td>After our month-long trip, it was time to catch up with the neighbors and the news around town.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>check up on</td> <td>examine, investigate</td> <td>The boys promised to check up on the condition of the summer house from time to time.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>come up with</td> <td>to contribute (suggestion, money)</td> <td>After years of giving nothing, the old parishioner was able to come up with a thousand-dollar donation.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>cut down on</td> <td>curtail (expenses)</td> <td>We tried to cut down on the money we were spending on entertainment.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>drop out of</td> <td>leave school</td> <td>I hope none of my students drop out of school this semester.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>get along with</td> <td>have a good relationship with</td> <td>I found it very hard to get along with my brother when we were young.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>get away with</td> <td>escape blame</td> <td>Janik cheated on the exam and then tried to get away with it.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>get rid of</td> <td>eliminate</td> <td>The citizens tried to get rid of their corrupt mayor in the recent election.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>get through with</td> <td>finish</td> <td>When will you ever get through with that program?</td> </tr> <tr> <td>keep up with</td> <td>maintain pace with</td> <td>It's hard to keep up with the Joneses when you lose your job!</td> </tr> <tr> <td>look forward to</td> <td>anticipate with pleasure</td> <td>I always look forward to the beginning of a new semester.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>look down on</td> <td>despise</td> <td>It's typical of a jingoistic country that the citizens look down on their geographical neighbors.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>look in on</td> <td>visit (somebody)</td> <td>We were going to look in on my brother-in-law, but he wasn't home.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>look out for</td> <td>be careful, anticipate</td> <td>Good instructors will look out for early signs of failure in their students</td> </tr> <tr> <td>look up to</td> <td>respect</td> <td>First-graders really look up to their teachers.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>make sure of</td> <td>verify</td> <td>Make sure of the student's identity before you let him into the classroom.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>put up with</td> <td>tolerate</td> <td>The teacher had to put up with a great deal of nonsense from the new students.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>run out of</td> <td>exhaust supply</td> <td>The runners ran out of energy before the end of the race.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>take care of</td> <td>be responsible for</td> <td>My oldest sister took care of us younger children after Mom died.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>talk back to</td> <td>answer impolitely</td> <td>The star player talked back to the coach and was thrown off the team.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>think back on</td> <td>recall</td> <td>I often think back on my childhood with great pleasure.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>walk out on</td> <td>abandon</td> <td>Her husband walked out on her and their three children.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>