This document provides definitions and examples for 10 common English phrasal verbs: 1) To back up someone/something - To support or defend someone 2) To check out someone or something - To get more information or to look at something informally 3) To ask around - To ask many people the same question 4) To break out / to break out in something / a breakout - Either to escape or to develop a skin condition 5) To get by - To manage but struggle to survive or cope 6) To put up with someone/something - To tolerate or handle 7) To chip in - To help or contribute 8) To cut back on something - To consume

1. Phrasal Verb
Launch
10 Common
Phrasal Verbs

2. To support or defend someone
Example: I backed up my coworker when
she was falsely accused of coming late to
work.
1) To back up
someone/something

3. To get more information or to look at
something (informal)
Examples: 1) I’ll check out the contract so
we can decide if it’s ok. 2) Check it out!
This is so cool!
2) To check out someone or
something

4. To ask many people the same question
Examples: 1) I asked around, but nobody
has seen my phone. 2) She asked around
to find the best restaurant.
3) To ask around

5. 1) To escape 2) to develop a skin condition
Examples: 1) The convict broke out of jail.
2) I broke out in a rash after eating peanut
butter. = I broke out after eating peanut
butter. 3) I had a bad breakout.
4) To break out / to break out
in something / a breakout

6. To manage but struggle to survive or cope
Examples: 1) It’s hard to get by on the
minimum wage in the US. 2) She’s getting
by after her dad passed away, but it’s
difficult.
5) To get by

7. To tolerate, handle
Example: I couldn’t put up with my
coworker’s negativity, so I changed to a
different position.
6) To put up with
someone/something

8. To help or contribute
Examples: 1) If everyone chips in, we can
finish cleaning really fast. 2) We all
chipped in some money to buy a new TV.
7) To chip in

9. To consume less of something
Examples: 1) He needs to cut back on
sugar. 2) She decided to cut back on her
phone time.
8) To cut back on
something

10. To remember, think about
Examples: 1) It makes me happy to think
back on when I first came to the US. 2) I
thought back to when I started learning
English & realized I have learned a lot.
9) To think back on/to

11. To choose or select
Examples: 1) They picked out a gray color
to paint their house. 2) Pick out your
favorite toy.
10) To pick out something

12. Practice!
• Review the strategies we
discussed. Check out the
attached resources.
• Practice this week.
• Next week = phrasal verbs
with OFF

13. Keep going in the course!