Many phrasal verbs are ambiguous: pick up chicks - 1) pick up chickens from the floor, 2) “pick up” girls.

Phrasal verbs in English (phrasal verbs) - a problematic topic, like or, and problematic not only for beginners. One of the difficulties associated with them is which phrasal verbs to learn first.

What are phrasal verbs?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and 1) an adverb, 2) a preposition, 3) an adverb and a preposition. This is an integral semantic unit that should be perceived as one word, and not a combination of words. Often the meaning of a phrasal verb is far from the meaning of each word included in it individually.

1. Verb + adverb:

I asked around but no one has seen Johnny. - I asked people, but no one saw Johnny.

2. Verb + preposition:

The movie is coming out this summer. - Movie comes out this summer.

3. Verb + adverb + preposition:

We are looking forward to your reply. - We look forward to your answer.

It is also sometimes said that a phrasal verb consists of a verb and one or two particles, meaning by particles a preposition and an adverb.

Features of phrasal verbs

It is important to understand that a phrasal verb is a word, and not a combination of two or three words, that is, its meaning is not equal to the sum of the meanings of the words included in it.

Let's take a phrasal verb go out. Individually the words mean the following: go- go, out- out, out. It can be assumed, that go out- this is “coming out from somewhere.” In fact go out- this is going somewhere for a walk, having fun.

Sheila is going to go out with her college friends tonight. – Sheila is going out tonight go somewhere with friends from college.

Moreover, go out with in a certain context it is dating someone, being in a romantic relationship.

Sheila is still going out with Daniel. – Sheila is still meets with Daniel.

Another difficulty with phrasal verbs is that they are often ambiguous (just like ordinary words). At the verb go out There is another meaning, which, however, is less common in colloquial speech:

The lights go out at eleven. - Light turns off at eleven o'clock.

Combinations “verb + preposition” are not always a phrasal verb; there are also prepositional verbs (), such as depend on – depend on, be afraid of – be afraid of something. Their meaning can usually be guessed from the verb. I talked more about prepositions and the constructions in which they are used in this video:

Why you need to know phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are very common in spoken language. Without understanding them, at least the basic ones, you will not understand native speakers well. By the way, non-native English speakers often avoid phrasal verbs, replacing them with one-word synonyms (“contuniue” instead of “go on”), so it is easier to communicate with them.

In general, to speak and express thoughts, many phrasal verbs are optional. Yes, they make speech livelier, more conversational, shorter, but often they can be replaced with synonyms or circumvented by expressing it in some other way. Phrasal verbs need to be known first of all in order to understand live speech.

How to learn phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs, like any words, can be taught in different ways: etc. - this is more a matter of personal preference rather than the effectiveness of a particular technique. The most important thing is that phrasal verbs need to be memorized, taking into account their context.

There are words, say, the names of household items, that are perfectly remembered without context. Microwave in any context microwave. This trick will not work with phrasal verbs; their meaning is clear only in context, and they are remembered much better when there is an example before your eyes. That is why I have prepared a list of phrasal verbs with examples - examples will help you understand and remember them better.

Another tip for memorizing phrasal verbs: don't be afraid of them. Yes, there are many of them, but they are often found in speech (in speech more often than in texts), so if you watch, listen to programs, talk, you will quickly learn the main verbs due to their frequency.

List: phrasal verbs with examples and translation + cards

The list I offer is based on common sense and personal experience - these are the phrasal verbs that I think are most useful to know. Below you will also find a short summary of this list of just 30 words. Abbreviations smb And smt stand for somebody(someone) and something(something). I have written more detailed articles about some verbs with phrasal verbs, idioms, useful expressions, you will find links below.

In addition, I recommend you video lessons and exercises on Puzzle English. There is a series of lessons on phrasal verbs, and in the exercises you need to assemble sentences by choosing the right words.

Exercises on phrasal verbs in Puzzle English

Ask

• ask smb out- invite you on a date

John asked Nancy out to (for) dinner. – John invited Nancy for lunch.

Did that nice young man ask you out?- This nice young man asked you out on a date?

• ask around– ask people, ask a question to several people

I asked around but nobody knew how to find that hotel. - I asked people, but no one knows how to find this hotel.

What? Sorry, I haven’t seen your cat. Ask around. - What? Sorry, I didn't see your cat. Ask people.

Be

• be after- try to get something, find something

What are you after in that room? There's nothing in there. - What you trying to find in this room? There's nothing here.

I don't know what he is after. - I do not know what he needs.

• be away (to somewhere)– to be absent, to be in another place

The Johnson's were away all last week to Mexico. – The Johnson family all last week was away in Mexico.

• be on/off– be on, off (about the device)

Is the robot still on?– The robot is still included?

The lights are off in the building. – Light in the building switched off.

Blow

• blow up- explode

Cars don't blow up like they do in movies. - Cars are not explode like in the movies.

Break

• break up– to separate (about lovers)

Jack and Helen broke up finally. – Jack and Helen finally broke up.

• break down– to break down (for example, about a car)

Can you give me a ride? My car broke down. -Can you give me a ride? My car broke.

• break in- break in

The police broke in and arrested everyone. – Police broke in and everyone was arrested.

• break out- escape, escape

The movie is about a guy who broke out of jail. - A film about a guy, escaped from prison.

Bring

• bring along- bring someone with you

He brought along his son to the football match. - He brought with him son to a football match.

• bring over- bring something to someone, take something with you

Jack brought over a new videogame and we played it together. – Jack brought with me a new video game and we played it together.

• bring up– 1) mention something in a conversation, raise a topic, 2) educate, raise children

I didn't want to bring up business at lunch. - I did not want mention about business at lunch.

His grandmother brought him up.- His raised grandmother.

Call

• call (smb) back– call back

I’ve been to ten job interviews, you know what they all said? We'll call you back. – I went to ten interviews, do you know what they all told me? We will help you We'll call you back.

• call by- come in for a while, visit

I wanted to call by on my way home. - I wanted come in to you on the way home.

Calm

• calm (smb) down- calm down, calm someone down

Calm down, everything is going to be just fine. – Calm down everything will be just fine.

The nurse came up to the little girl and calmed her down. – The nurse approached the little girl and calmed her down.

Chip

• chip in- chip in money

I'm gonna order a pizza, let's chip in. - I'll order pizza, let's go Let's chip in.

They each chipped in ten dollars to buy a present. - They all chipped in$10 each to buy a gift.

Count

• count on (rely on)- rely on someone

You can count on my friend, he always keeps his word. - You can rely on to my friend, he always keeps his word.

Check

• check in/out- check in, check out of a hotel

We checked in on Saturday, and we check out on Tuesday. - We let's settle down(at the hotel) on Saturday, and let's move out on Tuesday.

• check with= agree with someone, get approval

He doesn't need to check with his wife to make sure they don’t have other plans. - He needs consult (agree) with his wife to make sure they have no other plans.

Come

• come across (run across)- to stumble upon something, someone, to meet by chance

I came across my ex-wife in the grocery store. - I accidentally I stumbled at his ex-wife at the grocery store.

• come back- come back

He's gone. But he promised to come back. - He left. But he promised return.

• come up to smb/smt- approach someone or something

She came up to me and asked if I was lost. - She came up to me and asked if I was lost.

• come up with smt- come up with a solution, find an idea

And then all of a sudden Mary came up with her brilliant plan. “And then all of a sudden Mary came up with it your brilliant plan.

Just come up with something. - Just come up with anything (solution).

• come from- to be from somewhere

Where do you come from? – Where You?

She comes from Spain. - She from Spain.

• come off– fall off

Old paint has come off the wall. – Old paint fell off from the wall.

• come out– 1) come out (about a film, book) 2) open up (about a secret)

When is your new book coming out? - When comes out your new book?

It came out that the picture was fake. – It revealed, that the picture was fake.

• come over– come to someone (usually home)

My parents are gone for a business trip, come over. - My parents went on a business trip, come to me.

• Come on!– an expression with meanings: 1) come on! (encouraging) 2) let's go! hurry up! 3) stop it already! (well that's enough for you, come on)

Come on, guys, you can do it! – Let's, guys, you can do it!

Come on, we need to hurry. – Went, we need to hurry.

Oh, come on, dad, I know there is no Santa. - Dad, well that's enough for you, I know there is no Santa.

• come around– 1) visit, stop by, 2) come to your senses after losing consciousness

I live just across the street, come around some time. - I live across the street come in somehow.

He was unconscious but the doctor made him come around. - He was unconscious, but the doctor brought him to his senses.

Cut

• cut down on smt– 1) cut back, reduce the consumption of something

We'll have to cut down on water if we want to last until help arrives. - We will have to reduce consumption water if we want to hold out until help arrives.

The gevernment is going to cut down on defense spending. – The government is meeting cut costs on defense.

• cut smt off– 1) cut something off, 2) isolate

Why did you cut the sleeves off?- Why do you cut off sleeves?

On this island, we are cut off from the rest of the world. - On this island we cut off from the rest of the world.

• cut smt out- cut something out

She cut out his picture from the magazine. - She cut out his photo from a magazine.

• cut in (front of smb)– cut off with a car, suddenly wedge in front of another car

The green Ford cut in front of us as if he owned the road! – Green Ford cut us off as if it were his road!

Deal

• deal with smt/smb- make business

I prefer to deal with the same representative each time. – I prefer every time make business with the same representative.

Dress

• dress up (as smb/smt)- to dress up, to dress beautifully or formally, to change into someone or something

You don't have to dress up to go to the mall, jeans and a T-shirt a fine. – You don’t need dress up for a shopping center, jeans and a T-shirt will do.

Ellie dressed up as a witch for Halloween. – Ellie dressed up as a witch on Halloween.

End

• end up- to end up in some place or situation

That's how I ended up in small this town. - That's how I am in the end it turned out in this city.

After such a brilliant career, he ended up selling second hand cars. – After such a brilliant career, he eventually became used car dealer.

Fall

• fall down- fall

My cat fell down from the balcony, but it’s ok. - My cat fell from the balcony, but he's fine.

• fall for smb- fall in love

Mike fell for Jane. – Mike fell in love in Jane.

• fall for smt- buy into a trick, believe in a deception

That's a stupid story, my wife will never fall for it.- This is a stupid story, my wife. never do this buy it.

• fall apart- fall apart

If we are talking about a person, then fall apart - it’s hard to experience something

How are you going to sell your house? It's falling apart. – How are you going to sell your house? He's the same falling apart.

After losing my job, I was falling apart. - After I lost my job, I was not himself(I was having a hard time).

• fall behind– to lag behind

To fall behind both physically, while moving, and figuratively, for example, behind schedule.

One of the tourists fell behind and got lost. - One of the tourists lagged behind and got lost.

We have to hurry, we are falling behind the schedule. - We need to hurry, we we're falling behind from the schedule.

Fill

• fill in/out- fill in the form)

There will be a lot of paperwork, you’ll have to read, fill in, sign hundreds of documents. - There will be a lot of paperwork, you will have to read, fill in, sign hundreds of documents.

• find out / figure out- find out, find out

I don’t’ know how it works but let’s figure it out. – I don’t know how it works, but let’s do it let's find out(we'll figure it out).

How did you find out where to find me? - How are you found out where can you find me?

Get

• get along with- to get along with someone, to be on good terms

In school, I didn't get along with my classmates. - I'm at school didn't get along with classmates.

• get through- call by phone

I called you twice but couldn’t get through. - I called you twice, but I couldn’t get through.

• get in- get into the car.

Hey, we gotta hurry! Get in! - Hey, we need to hurry! Get in the car!

He didn’t see the truck coming when we was getting in his car. “He didn’t see the truck coming when sat down in the car.

• get on– board a train, plane, ship, bus

I am afraid, we got on the wrong train. - I'm afraid that we sat down on the wrong train.

• get off– 1) get off transport (car, train, bus, etc.), 2) get off, take off something

I'm getting off here, see you later! - I'm here I'm going out see you!

Get your feet off my table! – Take it away your feet off my table!

• get up/down– rise, stand up/fall, bend down

The boxer got up and continued to fight. – Boxer got up and continued the fight.

When something exploded got down, but it was just a firework. - When something exploded, I crouched down but it was just fireworks.

• get away (with smt)- to avoid punishment for something

How to get away with murder. - How avoid punishment for murder.

• get over– 1) get over an obstacle, 2) cope with a problem, illness

The cat is so fat that it can’t get over a fence. - This cat is so fat that you can’t climb over over the fence.

If you have a problem, you have to get over it. – If you have a problem, you have to deal with it cope with.

Give

• give up– 1) give up, 2) stop doing something

Fight and never give up. - Fight and never give up.

I gave up smoking. - I quit(stop) smoking.

• give smt away– 1) to give away a secret, 2) to give away, to give away (for free)

Someone gave your little secret away.- Somebody told about your little secret.

The are giving away some unsold stuff. - They hand out some unsold items.

• give back- to return

You took my phone! Give it back!– You took my phone! Give it back his!

• give out– distribute, usually free of charge and to a large number of people

You can't just give out the candies, they are one dollar each. -You can't just do that distribute candies, they cost a dollar apiece.

Go

• go on (with smt)- continue doing something

Go on, please, I’m listening. – Carry on please, I'm listening.

After a short pause, Jane went on with her story. – After a short pause Jane continued your story.

• go out- go somewhere to have fun, take a walk

I go out with my friends every Friday night. - I I'm going somewhere with friends every Friday evening.

• go out with smb– dating someone, being in a romantic relationship

Are you still going out with Bob? -Are you still dating with Bob?

• go with– approach, combine, go towards something (about clothes, food)

These shoes don't go well with your pants. - These shoes are bad combine with your trousers.

What wine goes with fish? – What kind of wine? fits to the fish?

• go back to- return to some activity

We went back to work after a short break. - We are back back to work after a short break.

• go down/up– shrink/increase

Are you expecting the prices to go down? Normally, they only go up.– Do you expect prices will they fall? Usually they only grow.

• go without smt- get by, cope without something

This time you'll have to go without my help. - This time you'll have to get by without my help.

Hand

• hand out- distribute to a group of people

Hand out the invitations to everyone. – Give it away invitations to everyone.

• hand in– hand in (e.g. homework)

You have to hand in your essay by Monday. - You must pass essay by Monday.

Grow

• grow up- grow up, become an adult

When I grow up, I want to be a doctor. – I want to become a doctor when I'll grow up.

• grow back- grow back, grow back

Don’t worry about your haircut, it’ll grow back. - Don't worry about your haircut, hair will grow back.

• grow out of smt- to grow out of something, to become too big or too old for it

My kids grew out of the clothes I had bought just a few months ago. - My children grew out of clothes, which I bought just a few months ago.

I grew out of cartoons. - I have already too old for cartoons.

Hang

• hang in- hold on, don’t lose heart

Hang in there! We're coming to rescue you. – Hold on! We are coming to help.

• hang out- hang out with someone, spend time

I'm gonna hang out with my friends today. - I'm going today hang out with friends.

• hang up- hang up, end the phone conversation

Wait! Don't hang up!- Wait! Don't hang up!

Note: pick up – pick up the phone.

Hold

• hold on– 1) please wait, 2) do not give up, hold on

Hold on, I forgot my phone. – Wait, I forgot my phone.

Hold on, guys, help is coming. – Hold on guys, help is on the way.

• hold it against smb- hold a grudge against someone

He lied to me but I don’t hold it against him.- He lied to me, but I I don't hold it against him for that.

• hold back- restrain physically

A seven nation army couldn’t hold me back. – The army of seven nations (countries) could not contain.

Hurry

• hurry up- hurry

You have to hurry up,we are almost late. - You need hurry, we're almost late.

Keep

• keep (on) doing smt- continue doing something

Instead of “doing” you can take another verb.

Keep on stirring until it boils. – Keep stirring until it boils.

Keep going, keep going. – Go-go(let's go, let's go).

• keep smt from smb- keep something secret from someone

You can't keep your death from your family. - You can not hide your illness from families.

• keep smt/smb out– don’t let anyone get close, don’t enter, don’t let in

You should keep your dog out of my lawn. - You feel better hold your dog further away from my lawn.

Keep your hands out of me! – Hold your hands from me further away!

Let's

• let smb down- let down

Don’t worry, you can rely on me, I won’t let you down.- Don't worry, you can rely on me. I don't want you I'll let you down.

• let smb in- let in, let in

Guy, let me in, it's cold out there! - Guys, let me in me, it's cold there!

Log

• log in/out– log in/out of your account (on the Internet), log in/log out

How can I log in if I forgot my password? - How do I log in what if I forgot my password?

Log out first, then log in again and check if the game works. – Come out from the account, come in again and check if the game works.

Look

• look for- search

I am looking for a post office. - I looking for Postal office.

• look forward to- look forward to something

We are looking forward to your next visit. - We and We're looking forward to it your next visit.

We are looking forward to visiting you. - We look forward to when we visit you.

• look after- keep an eye on, keep an eye on

Can you look after my stuff, please? I'll be right back. - Could you look after my things please? I'll be right back.

• look up– find information (usually in a book)

I don't know this word look it up in the dictionary. - I don’t know this word look in dictionary.

• look out- to be afraid of something

Typically used as an exclamation “Look out!” - “Beware!”

Look out! Someone's coming! – Beware! Someone's coming!

Make

• make smt up- to invent, to lie about something

I had to make up a story about why I was late. - I had to compose the story of why I was late.

I told you she made it up!- I told you that she is all this I made it up!

• make out- kiss passionately and for a long time

Jack cought his girlfriend making out with his friend. – Jack found his girlfriend, kissing with his friend.

Move

• move in (to)– settle into a new home, move in

We moved in yesterday and know no one here. - We moved came here yesterday and we don’t know anyone here.

I'm going to move in to my friend's place. - I'm going to move to to a friend.

• move away (to)- leave somewhere, move out of housing

The Patterson's have moved away, but I can give your their new address. – The Pattersons moved out(moved), but I can give you their new address.

I was born in Germany but we moved away to England, when I was a kid. – I was born in Germany, but we moved to England when I was a child.

• move on- move from one thing to another, move on

I think we've talked enough about it, let's move on. - I think we've talked about this enough, let's further(let's move on to another topic).

I want to change my job, I need to move on. – I want to change my job, I need move on.

Pass

• pass away- go to another world, die

Pass away is the formal, most polite and cautious synonym for the word die (to die).

My grandfather passed away when I was ten. - My grandfather left us when I was ten.

• pass by- pass, pass by and not stop

We were passing by the City Hall, when Ann saw Harry in the street. - We passed by City Hall when Anne saw Harry on the street.

• pass out- lose consciousness

It was hot in the church and an old lady passed out. – It was hot in the church, and the elderly woman fainted.

Note: come round - come to your senses.

Pay

• pay smb back- repay a debt, repay

Morgan bought me a ticket, but I haven’t paid him back yet. Morgan bought me a ticket, but I haven’t yet. returned give him money.

• pay off– pay off

Your effort will pay off. – Your works will pay off.

Pick

• pick up– 1) pick up from the floor, 2) pick up the phone, 3) “pick up”, “pick up” (about getting to know each other)

Have you just dropped a cigarette on the ground? Pick it up!“Did you just throw a cigarette on the ground?” Lift it up!

It’s my boss calling, don’t’ pick it up. - This is my boss calling. don't pick up the phone.

“He came home with a girl he had picked up in a bar.” – “You mean she had picked him up?”- “He came home with a girl whom picked up in the bar." - “You mean which one is his did you catch it?

Play

• play along (with smb)- play along

Jim played along with Ron, when he said he was a movie producer. – Jim played along Ron when he said he was a film producer.

Don't worry, just play along ok? - Don't worry, just play along Fine?

• play around (fool around)- fool around

Aren't you too big boys for playing around? - Aren't you guys too big to fool?

The teacher was angry because we were fooling around. – The teacher was angry because we were fooling around.

Pull

• pull over- stop the car by the road, on the side of the road

We pulled over to check our tires. - We stopped by the road to check the wheels.

• pull oneself together- pull yourself together, pull yourself together

Come on pull yourself together, we have to work. - Come on already, get yourself together we need to work.

Put

• put on– put on

Put your hat on. – Put it on hat.

Put on your seat belts. – Buckle up(put on) your seat belts.

Run

• run away- run away

Tell me that funny story how you early away from a dog. – Tell them this funny story about how you ran away from the dog.

• run for- to catch up, to run after something

I lost my wallet when was running for a bus. - I lost my wallet when ran for by bus.

• run across / run into smb (come across)- accidentally bump into someone

Ron ran across his teacher, miss Smith, in the park when he was supposed to be at school. – Ron I came across it by accident at his teacher, Miss Smith, in the park when he was supposed to be at school.

• run around- be very busy, do a lot of things

After running around all day, James is too tired to play with his kids. - After he minded business all day, James is too tired to play with the children.

• run on smt– to work on something (about a source of energy)

Does this bus run on gas or electricity? – This bus works for gasoline or electricity?

• run over smt/smb- move by car

The deer was ran over by a car. – Deer moved car.

Set

• set smt up– 1) arrange, organize, 2) substitute

Can you set up a meeting with him? - You can arrange will I meet him?

The police have set him up. They put some drugs in his pocket. - Police him framed They planted drugs in his pocket.

Note: the word “police” in the meaning of “police officers” is plural, not singular, so it is “police have”, not “police has”.

Show

• show off- to brag, to show off

He bought the most expensive guitar to show off to his friends. - He bought the most expensive guitar so that grab in front of friends.

• show up- appear, come

Show up is usually to come unexpectedly or late, like “show up” in Russian. Often used when someone was expected, but he never came.

We’ve been waiting for him for an hour but he didn't show up. “We waited for him for an hour, but he did not come.

He showed up in the middle of the night. - He showed up in the middle of the night.

Sleep

• sleep over- spend the night at someone's house

It’s too late to go back home, why don’t you sleep over? - It's too late to go home, why don't you stay overnight?

Can I sleep over at my friend's house? - May I spend the night at a friend's house?

Slow

• slow down– reduce speed

The car slowed down passing us by. - Car slowed down, passing by us.

Shut

• shut (smt/smb) up- shut up, shut up

Hey, shut up, I can't hear anything. - Hey, shut up I hear nothing.

Somebody shut this alarm up.- Anyone shut up already this alarm.

Sign

You are not supposed to write the best essay ever, but it has to stand out. – You don't have to write the best essay of all time, but it should do something differ.

The tourist guide was wearing an orange jacket so that he stood out in a crowd. – The guide was wearing an orange vest to stand out in crowd.

Stick

• stick to smt- stick to something

You can’t lose weight if you don’t stick to the diet. – You won’t be able to lose weight if you don’t stick to diets.

pick up- lift, pick up; take away
Jim dropped his pen and bent to pick it up.
Jim dropped the pen and bent down to pick it up.
They pick up our trash twice a week.
Garbage is collected twice a week.
pick oneself up- rise after falling

pick up- rescue, pick up (at sea)
pick up the shipwrecked sailors
pick up shipwrecked sailors

pick up- hear, find out; collect, obtain (gossip, rumors):
She always picks up gossip.
She's always collecting gossip.

pick up- drop by, give a lift, drop by, drop in (for someone/something)
I"ll pick you up at your place at five o"clock.
I'll pick you up at five.
Pick up the letters! - Grab the letters!

pick up- (colloquial) to catch (a disease); pick up (expression); pick up; learn (something) quickly
She"s picked up flu along the way.
On the way, she caught a cold.

pick up- take a passenger:
He picked up two students outside London.
On the way from London he gave two students a lift.

pick up- find the error
pick up mistakes in a work
find errors in work

pick up- capture (smell, sound); grab (hint)
I picked up an implication in the question.
I caught the subtext in the question.

pick up- receive, catch (signals, transmissions); answer (telephone) call
I"m calling him, but he just isn"t picking up!
I call him and call him, but he just doesn’t pick up!

pick up- (colloquial) buy (on occasion or inexpensively)
I know where you can pick up a good used car at a very reasonable price.
I know where you can get a good used car at a reasonable price.

pick up- learn (something) quickly, pick up (knowledge)
to pick up a language - quickly learn a language
to pick up scraps of knowledge - to pick up fragmentary knowledge

pick up- (colloquial) get acquainted
pick up with - get acquainted with (someone); "pick up" someone; make/make an acquaintance
Some men go to dances just to see if they can pick up with a girl.
Some men go to dances just to pick up a girl.

pick up- (colloquial) catch (criminal)
The escaped prisoners were picked up by the police.
The escaped prisoners were caught by the police.

pick up- (colloquial) scold
I"m always having to pick up the children for rude behavior.
I always have to scold children for bad behavior.

pick up- (colloquial) earn (usually a small amount)
He picked up some money.

pick up- (colloquial) find (the way) again
to pick up the trail - attack the trail

pick up- renew; return (to the topic of conversation)
We can pick up our discussion after the break.
We can continue our discussion after the break.

pick up- get well; recuperate
I picked up after a nap.
I took a nap and regained my strength.

pick up- improve; revive (about the economy)
When is the weather going to pick up?
When will the weather improve?

pick up- cheer up, cheer up
It's hard to pick yourself up after such a terrible shock.
It's hard to recover from a blow like that.

pick up- pick up speed, increase (engine) speed; accelerate
The engine coughed for a few minutes, then picked up, and soon we were on our way.
The engine coughed for a few minutes, then started and we drove off.

pick up- (American) tidy up the room
Pick up your room before you go out.
Clean up your room before you leave.

The phrasal verb pick up is special, multifaceted, you will say that many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning, but pick up is completely unusual. To see the variety of meanings, consider the use of the phrasal verb pick up.

1.Expresses the idea of ​​a film, a movie, a spectacle that becomes more and more interesting.

The action movie was quite slow at the beginning, but it really picked up in the middle. At first the dynamics of the film are very slow, but by the middle there is a noticeable acceleration.

The song is very slow at first, but the tempo picks up a lot after the first verse. This song, which starts out very slow, speeds up a lot after the second verse.
2. Stabilization of business and economic projects.

Business really picked up after the summer because people were no longer on summer vacation. With many people returning from their summer holidays, business has picked up.
Sales were down for the first three months of this year, but they’re starting to pick up now. After a three-month decline in sales, they are currently growing.
3. The rapid disappearance of someone or something.

"Where's Ralph?" "Where's Ralph?"
"I don't know." He was here, but then he just picked up and left. I don’t know where he went.” I don't know. He was just here, then he got up and went somewhere walked.
4. An offer to pay a bill (for someone else).

Don’t worry about getting any extra money for tonight. I'm going to pick up the tab. Don't worry, you won't need any additional expenses, I'll pay the bill.
The check will be picked up by the boss tonight. The check will be cleared by the supervisor this evening.
5. Learn something from detailed examples.

When I was traveling through France, I picked up a little French. I learned to speak a little French while traveling in France.
I don’t know how to use this machine, but I’m sure I can pick it up quickly. I don't know how to use this machine, but I'm sure I can figure it out quickly.
6.Meet someone, rent someone for the night.

A strange guy tried to pick me up in the bar last night. I told him I wasn’t interested. One guy I didn’t know tried to pick me up in a bar, but I said I wasn’t interested.
7. When the police arrest someone.

The guy who stole my money was finally picked up by the police. The police finally caught the thief who robbed me.
8. About something that gives you strength (music, drinks, food, communication).

If I'm tired, I have a cup of coffee. It really picks me up. If I'm tired, I drink a cup of coffee, it cheers me up.
9. Catch a signal.
My radio is really good. It can pick up signals from over 300 kilometers away. My receiver is simply super, it picks up more than 300 stations.
10. Pick up something from the floor, from the road.
I saw a fifty dollar bill on the ground this morning, so I picked it up and put it in my pocket. This morning I saw a fifty dollar bill on the ground, picked it up and put it in my pocket.

The word pick means “to select”, “to choose”. But what happens if we add small words (prepositions) to it? Let's see if this makes a difference!

Many people are very familiar with the word pick up in the sense of “meeting a guy or girl for a romantic relationship.” There is such a word in English, but, oddly enough, it is not often used in this meaning.

In this article we will find out what more may be what people mean when they tell you to “pick up”! Intrigued? Read on!

8 meanings of phrasal verbs with pick in English

Read about what phrasal verbs are and how to use them in this article.

Our hero today is the word pick and the 7 most common phrasal verbs that are formed from it.

1. Phrasal verb pick at

Transcription and translation:[pɪk æt] / [peak et] - pick, fiddle (about objects or food)

Meaning of the word: Pulling or touching something constantly; if it’s about food, eat for a long time and in small pieces, because you’re not hungry.

Use:

This word is used with objects or food. For example: John nervously fiddled with his napkin. I was picking at the last piece of cake because there was no one else to finish it.

Examples:

Don't pick at your scratch, put some band-aid on it!
Not pick cover your scratch with a piece of plaster!

You"re not even eating, you"re just picking at your dinner. Has something happened?
You don't even eat, you just pick at your dinner. Something happened?

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2. Phrasal verb pick on

Transcription and translation:[pɪkɒn] / [peak he] - cling to someone, pester, tease

Meaning of the word: Criticize someone, call them names, “attack”

Use: pick + on + the one who is being pestered. For example: Fred clung To ( picked on) John at school until John started going to karate. Small dogs sometimes start pester (pick on) to big ones.

Examples:

Some drunk guy in the bar started picking on me because he didn't like my shirt.
Some drunk guy at the bar started run over at me because he didn't like my shirt.

Stop picking on those who are weaker than you!
Enough pester to those who are weaker than you!

3. Phrasal verb pick out

Transcription and translation:[pɪk aʊt] / [pick out] - select, take away

Meaning of the word: Carefully select an object or person from a group of similar

Use: pick + out + what (or who) was chosen. For example: Jury took away (picked out) my work out of hundreds of others submitted to the competition. I took away (picked out) the ripest apples for the holiday table.

Examples:

We need to pick out suitable wallpaper for the living room.
We need choose suitable wallpaper for the living room.

I was tasked with picking out the best resumes of all that were sent to us.
I was given a task take away the best summaries of them all that were sent to us.

4. Phrasal verb pick up #1

Transcription and translation:[pɪkʌp] / [pick up] - pick up, pick up

Meaning of the word: Pick up someone or something and hold it in your hands

Use: pick + up + what was picked up. For example: Groom took on hands (picked up) bride. I picked up (picked up) money from the floor.

Examples:

The child was constantly asking the father to pick him up.
The child constantly asked his father take his on hands.

He picked up his suitcase and left.
He raised his suitcase and left.

5. Phrasal verb pick up #2

Transcription and translation:[pɪkʌp] / [pick up] - meet by car, pick up, give a ride, give up

Meaning of the word: Meet someone in a car somewhere or take them somewhere

Use:

If this word is used with the indication, Where everything happens, we are talking about the fact that they meet someone in a car, that is, they wait at a specified place in order to then take them. For example: I need meet (pick up) friend at the airport. I can take(pick up) you at 7 at your house.

If already specified, Where a person will be taken, then pick up is translated as “to give a lift.” For example: Every morning he picks up the children to school. If you don't have money for travel, then I can help you give a ride (pick up).

Examples:

I could pick you up home if you want.
I could have you give a ride home if you want.

He picked up a hitchhiker on his way home.
He gave me a lift hitchhiker on the way home.

6. Phrasal verb pick up #3

Transcription and translation:[pɪkʌp] / [pick up] - pick up the phone, answer the phone

Meaning of the word: Answer the phone call

Use:

This word can be used with the word "telephone". For example: I called him all day, but he never picked up ( pick up the phone). Jack took the phone ( picked up the phone), but they were silent on the phone.

However, in everyday speech the word "telephone" can be omitted. For example: I called him all day, but he never answered ( pick up). When an unknown number calls, I don't answer ( pick up).

Examples:

Pick up the phone, please, this ringing is getting on my nerves.
Reply on the phone please, this ringing gets on my nerves.

I"ve been trying to call him for an hour but he doesn"t pick up.
I've been trying to call him for an hour now, but he doesn't beret.

7. Phrasal verb pick up #4

Transcription and translation:[pɪkʌp] / [peak up] - intensify, increase

Meaning of the word: Become stronger, increase in number

Use:

This word can be used when something increases in quantity or improves itself. For example: Prices are constantly increasing (pick up). The wind is picking up again. Our sales have increased (picked up) by 15% this year.

Or it can be used if someone increases or gains something in quantity. For example: The train has started dial (pick up) speed. John needs dial (pick up) weight if he wants to become a boxer.

Examples:

We picked up the pace when we realized we didn't have much time.
We accelerated(literally: increased the pace) when they realized that there was not much time left.

The rain is picking up, we need to wait it out!
Rain intensifies, we need to wait it out.

8. Phrasal verb pick up #5

Transcription and translation:[pɪkʌp] / [pick up] - gain, pick up (about information or skills)

Meaning of the word: Gain knowledge, skills, habits and other information by chance rather than through systematic study

Use: pick + up + received information. For example: I'll show you a trick that I picked up (picked up) from colleagues. He picked up (picked up) some Spanish words while living in Mexico.

Examples:

Where did you pick up this bad habit?
Where are you picked up this bad habit?

"I didn"t know you knew judo!" - "Oh, it"s nothing, I picked up a few things here and there...""
"I didn't know you knew judo!" - "Yes, so, got enough something here and there..."

Reinforcement task

Fill in the correct word in the blank. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

1. Judging by the way the guests ___ the cake, it was not very successful.
2. Sorry, I couldn’t ___ an hour ago, I had a meeting.
3. If you receive a call from this number, do not ___.
4. Before the speech, he was nervous and ___ the edge of the paper with the text of the speech.
5. The police dispersed the hooligans who ___ towards a random passerby.
6. Try to ___ only the most necessary information.
7. He ___ found the wallet to look for information about the owner.
8. I ___ you at the station.
9. I ___ a couple of interesting facts from this book.
10. Ashley promised ___ me before work.
11. Excuse me, could you ___ my pen? She rolled under your table.
12. The economic situation in the country ___ after the new reform.
13. This sport ___ popularity several years ago.
14. Teacher ___ the most interesting quotes from students’ work.
15. While working in Korea, he ___ some common phrases.
16. Previously, Ted’s classmates ___ at him because of his glasses, but now they respect him and ask him to write off his credit.