Phrasal Verbs List - b

• back away

  (inseparable) to retreat backwards
  The crowd backed away as the terrorist blew himself up.

• back down

  (inseparable) to concede in a disagreement
  The mugger backed down when he saw that Max was carrying a 9mm handgun.

• back up

  (separable) to go in reverse
  When Steve passed the beautiful girl hitchhiking on the freeway, he immediately stopped the car, backed up, and offered her a ride.

• back up

  (separable) to help or support
  I will back my friends up no matter what they do.

• back up

  (separable) to make copies of computer files just in case something happens to the original files
  Please back up your files before you go home each day.

• bail out

  (inseparable) to jump out of an airplane (usually when it's going to crash)
  Luckily, the pilot bailed out before his plane hit the side of the mountain.

• bail out

  (inseparable) to quit or stop doing something (usually when experiencing difficulties)
  The congressional candidate bailed out of the race because there was no hope that he could raise enough money to win.

• bail out

  (separable) to rescue someone from a difficult situation
  Max's uncle bailed him out of the financial problems he was having.

• ball up

  (separable) to roll or form something into a round shape
  When Max does his laundry, instead of folding everything nicely when it's done, he just balls everything up and throws it in a bag.

• bash in

  (separable) to damage something by hitting it violently
  Vandals bashed in the windows of my new Lamborghini.

• beat up

  (separable) to hurt someone by hitting and/or kicking them repeatedly
  The bully beat the other kids up for their lunch money.

• black out

  (inseparable) to lose consciousness momentarily
  Max had a very severe headache and blacked out several times, so his doctor admitted him to the hospital.

• blend in

  (inseparable) to match or look the same as the surroundings
  In Max's neighborhood, you'll get beat up if you don't blend in.

• blow off

  (separable) to remove with powerful force
  The bomb blew the roof off the house.

• blow up

  (separable) to inflate
  Al's job was to sell the balloons. Jim's job was to blow them up.

• blow up

  (separable) to explode or to destroy something with an explosion
  Mary was arrested for blowing up Max's car with a homemade bomb.

• blow up

  (inseparable) to suddenly become angry
  The teacher blew up when she discovered that the students hadn't done their homework.

• bone up on

  (inseparable) to review, study, or practice a subject for a short period of time
  I need to bone up on my math as I have a university entrance exam at the end of the month.

• boss around

  (separable) to tell someone what to do repeatedly
  Mary likes to boss people around.

• break down

  (inseparable) to lose control of one's emotions
  Max broke down in tears when he heard that Mary had been arrested.

• break down

  (inseparable) to stop functioning
  John had to learn to become a good mechanic as his car was always breaking down.

• break in

  (inseparable) to forcibly enter a building
  Max called the police when he thought he heard someone breaking in.

• break in

  (separable) to work or repeatedly use something so that it becomes comfortable or easily usable
  Max's shoes hurt him as he had not yet broken them in.

• break into

  (inseparable) to forcibly enter
  Mary broke into the car to steal the stereo.

• break out

  (inseparable) to suddenly develop or erupt
  A riot broke out in Los Angeles today.

• break up

  (separable) to cause to disperse or scatter
  What time did the cops break the party up last night?

• break up (with)

  (separable) to end a relationship
  The Beatles broke up a long time ago. Max broke up with Mary.

• bring about

  (inseparable) to make happen
  Max's new girlfriend brought about some positive changes in his behavior.

• bring around

  (separable) to persuade, to cause someone to do something through persuasion
  Mary's passionate speech brought Max around to donate to her organization.

• bring around

  (separable) to guide someone or convey something
  I will bring the new intern around the office when she gets here.

• bring down

  (separable) to cause to fall
  Michael Moore is hoping to bring the Bush administration down.

• bring forth

  (separable) to produce or give rise to
  The eager new intern brought forth many new ideas on how to run the company.

• bring in

  (separable) to earn money
  Jill hates her new job, but she's bringing in a lot of money.

• bring in

  (separable) to reach a verdict
  The judge declared a mistrial because the jury could not bring in a verdict.

• bring in

  (separable) to arrest someone; to bring someone to the police station (usually for questioning)
  The police brought Max in for robbing the bank.

• bring on

  (separable) to cause to appear
  Bring on the birthday cake!

• bring up

  (separable) to mention
  When talking to Mary, Max never brings up her criminal record.

• bring up

  (separable) to raise or rear
  Mowgli was a boy brought up by wolves.

• brush up on

  (inseparable) to practice; to improve your skill or knowledge
  Max went back to school to brush up on mathematics.

• burn down

  (separable) to destroy by fire
  Pleaes don't play with matches. You could burn the house down.

• butt in

  (inseparable) to enter a conversation uninvited
  Excuse me for butting in