Phrasal Verbs Beginning with B

You are here

All | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
back away back_away
(intransitive) to retreat backwards

The crowd backed away as the terrorist blew himself up.

back down back_down
(intransitive) to concede in a disagreement

The mugger backed down when he saw that Max was carrying a 9mm handgun.

back up 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 back_up
(separable) to help or support

I will back my friends up no matter what they do.

back up back_up
(separable) to make copies of computer files just in case something happens to the original files

Please be sure to back up your files before you go home each day.

bail out bail_out
(intransitive) 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 bail_out
(intransitive) 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 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 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
(intransitive) 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
(intransitive) to match or look the same as the surroundings

In Max's neighborhood, if you don't blend in, you'll get beat up.

blow off blow_off
(separable) to remove with powerful force

The bomb blew the roof off the house.

blow up blow_up
(separable) to inflate

Al's job was to sell the balloons. Jim's job was to blow them up.

blow 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 blow_up
(intransitive) 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 break_down
(intransitive) to lose control of one's emotions

Max broke down in tears when he heard that Mary had been arrested.

Pages

About

We are dedicated to creating and providing free, high-quality English language learning resources.