25 Phrasal Verbs with Meaning
Read sth off
Meaning; to read sth. aloud from a list
Example; When he read your name off, come up to the stage.
Read (sth) back ( to sb)
Meaning; to read some information back or again to the person who has just given it
Example; I will read the telephone number back to you to make sure.
Read into
Meaning; to believe that an action, remark, or situation has a particular importance or meaning, often when this is not true
Example; Her speech is very clear. Don’t try to read anything else into it.
Read over/through
Meaning; to read something quickly from the beginning to the end
Example; You should read over your exam paper when you have finished.
Read for sth
Meaning; to study for something
Example; We are reading for our exams.
Read up on/about sth
Meaning; to spend time reading in order to find out information about something
Example; You should read up on this issue before going for an interview.
Read sth out
Meaning; to read something aloud
Example; Please read the names out so everyone can hear you.
Let in
Definition; Let someone come in
Example Sentence; She opened the window to let in the air.
Let on
Definition; Make clear, evince
Example Sentence; You don’t want to let on how rich you really are.
Let off
Definition; Cause to explode or release
Example Sentence; Stand back when you let off fireworks.
Let down
Definition; Fail to support or help
Example Sentence; My friend, don’t let me down this time.
Let out
Definition; Make bigger
Example Sentence; I need to let out this skirt.
Let down
Definition; Lengthen
Example Sentence; My father is a tailor, so he can let my pants down.
Look after sb/sth
Meaning; to watch or take care of someone or something
Example; I look after my friend’s fish when she is away.
Look ahead
Meaning; to think about what may happen in the future
Example; They need to look ahead to make a decision for their company.
Look round/around somewhere/sth
Meaning; to visit a place and look at the things in it.
Example; I will spend all day looking around the city.
Look at sth
Meaning; to think about a subject carefully
Example; We are looking at the various possibilities.
Look back
Meaning; to think about something that happened in the past
Example; When I look back, I’m filled with happiness.
Look down on sb
Meaning; to regard oneself as superior to somebody
Example; He looks down on her because he has a good job.
Look forward to sth
Meaning; to anticipate something with pleasure
Example; She is looking forward to visiting her family this weekend.
Look for
Meaning; to search for someone or something, to seek
Example; I am looking for Susan. Have you seen her?
Look in ( on sb/sth )
Meaning; to check briefly on someone or something
Example; I can look in on the child before I go to the bed.
Look into sth
Meaning; to try to discover the facts about something such as a problem or an issue.
Example; The president has promised to look into the case.
Look on
Meaning; to watch what is happening without participating.
Example; The mother cat is just looking on while the kittens are playing each other.
Go about sth
Meaning; to deal with something
Example; I want to solve this problem but I don’t know how to go about it.
Go after sth
Meaning; to try to get something
Example; He is planning to go after his friend’s project.
Go after sb
Meaning; to try to catch or stop someone
Example; We should go after her and tell her the truth.
Go against sth/sb
Meaning; to oppose or to disagree with someone or something
Example; The people’s votes went against us.
