25 Essential English Phrasal Verbs: Turn On, Pick Up, Check In

Turn on, pick up, check in — small words, big meanings, and word-for-word translation always fails.

turn onto switch on

open the light

Could you turn on the air conditioning?

turn offto switch off

close the light

Remember to turn off the lights when you leave.

turn upto increase the volume

Turn up the music — I love this song!

turn downto lower; to refuse politely

He turned down the job offer in the end.

pick upto collect someone; to lift

I'll pick you up at the airport at six.

drop offto take someone to a place

put me down here

Could you drop me off at the station?

check into register at a hotel or airport

We checked in and went straight to the room.

check outto leave a hotel; to pay and leave

We need to check out before eleven.

put onto dress in something

wear on

Put on your coat — it's freezing outside.

take offto remove; (of planes) to leave the ground

The flight takes off at nine twenty.

try onto put on clothes to test them

test the clothes

Can I try on these shoes in a size 40?

give upto stop trying

Don't give up — you're almost there.

look forto try to find

I'm looking for my keys — have you seen them?

look afterto take care of

My parents look after the dog when I travel.

look forward toto be excited about something coming

look forward to see you

I'm really looking forward to the trip.

run out ofto have none left

We've run out of milk — I'll get some.

get upto leave your bed

I get up at six thirty on weekdays.

get onto board a bus, train or plane

Get on at this stop and ride three stations.

get offto leave a bus, train or plane

get down the bus

We get off at the next stop.

get along withto have a good relationship with

She gets along well with her roommates.

find outto discover information

I'll find out what time the museum opens.

figure outto understand after thinking

It took me a while to figure out the subway map.

fill outto complete a form

Please fill out this form and sign at the bottom.

show upto arrive or appear

He showed up twenty minutes late, as usual.

work outto exercise; to end successfully

I work out three times a week.

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