Phrasal Verbs/T
Phrasal verbs beginning with T. Select a phrasal verb for more details.tail off
to gradually become less in amount or lower in level
take after
If you take after an older member of your family, you look like them or you have a similar personality to them.
take apart
If you take apart something, you separate it into the pieces it's made of.
take away
If you take something away, you take it somewhere else.
take back (1)
If you take something back, you return it to the place you got it from, or return it to the shop you bought it from.
take back (2)
If a store takes back something they've sold, they allow the buyer to return it for a refund, or exchange it.
take back (3) INFORMAL
If you take back something you said, you admit that you said the wrong thing and withdraw your comments.
take down (1)
If you take down a large structure, you dismantle it, or separate it into the parts from which it was assembled.
take down (2)
to remove something that's fixed to a wall, like a picture or a poster
take in (1)
to include something
take in (2)
to fully understand something you hear or read
take off (1)
to remove a piece of clothing, or the top of a container
take off (2)
If a plane takes off, it leaves the ground and rises into the sky.
take off (3)
to have a period of time away from work
take off (4)
to become popular or successful in a short time
take on (1)
If you take on something like a job, a responsibility, or anything involving a challenge, you agree to do it.
take on (2)
to give someone a job
take on (3)
to fight, or compete against, someone or something
take out (1)
If you take somebody out, you invite them to go out with you, usually for a meal or entertainment.
take out (2)
to remove something from a container, a pocket, a bag, etc.
take out (3)
to obtain something like a loan, an insurance policy, a patent, etc.
take over (1)
to take control of something like a company, an organization, a government, or a territory
take over (2)
to begin doing a job or a task that someone else had been doing previously
take up (1)
to fill an area of space or a period of time
take up (2)
to start doing something new like playing a sport, doing a job, or pursuing a hobby
take up (3)
to shorten a piece of clothing or a curtain to make it the right size
talk back
to reply rudely to someone in a position of authority
talk down to
If you talk down to someone, you speak to them as if they are inferior to you or less important than you.
talk into
If you talk someone into doing something, you persuade them to do it.
talk out of
If you talk someone out of something, you persuade them not to do it.
talk over
to discuss a situation with someone, usually before making a decision
talk round
If you talk somebody round, you persuade them to do what you want them to do, or to agree with you.
talk up
to speak enthusiastically about something, usually in order to persuade someone to buy it or invest in it
tear apart
to destroy something by breaking it into two or more pieces
tear down
to demolish a building or other structure
tear up
If you tear up a piece of paper, you tear it into several pieces.
tell apart
to tell the difference between two or more things that are very much alike
tell off
to strongly criticize someone for doing something wrong
think back
to think about a past event or a past time
think of (1)
to have something come to mind
think of (2)
to have an opinion about something or someone
think over
to think carefully about something before making a decision
think up
to use one's imagination to come up with something like an excuse, a name, a plan, or a story
throw away
to get rid of something you don't want, usually by putting it in a rubbish bin or a garbage can
throw off
to get rid of something that has been bothering you
throw out (1)
to discard something you don't want, usually by putting it in a rubbish bin or a garbage can
throw out (2)
to force somebody to leave something like a club, a college or school, an organisation, etc.
throw up INFORMAL
If someone throws up, they vomit up the contents of their stomach.
tidy up
to make a place look neat and tidy
tie up (1)
to tie together the ends of something
tie up (2)
to make somebody busy with something
tie up (3)
to make something or someone unavailable by committing them to something
tip off
to warn someone or give someone secret information about something
top up
to completely fill something like a glass or a container, or to increase the level of something like a phone card
touch on
to talk briefly about something when speaking or writing about another topic
toy with
to think about doing something, but not very seriously
track down
to find something after a long search
try on
to put on clothes or shoes before buying them to see if they fit properly and look good
try out
to test something to see what it's like, or to see if it works properly
turn around
to change something unsuccessful into something successful
turn away
If someone turns you away, they don't allow you to enter a place.
turn back
to return in the direction from which you've come, or to make someone do this
turn down (1)
to decrease or lower the volume, heat, power, etc. of an appliance by turning a knob or pressing a button
turn down (2)
If you turn down an offer or a request, you decide not to accept it.
turn in (1) INFORMAL
to go to bed
turn in (2)
If you turn somebody in, you tell the police that the person has committed a crime or you hand them over to the police yourself.
turn into
to change from one thing into another
turn off
to stop a machine or an appliance from working by using a button or a switch
turn on
to start a machine or an appliance by pressing a button or flicking a switch
turn out (1)
to make a light go off
turn out (2)
to have a certain outcome, or to end in a certain way
turn over (1)
to change the position of something so that the side facing down is now facing up
turn over (2)
to change your body's position when lying down so that you are facing the opposite direction
turn up (1)
to increase the volume, heat, power, etc. of an appliance by turning a knob or pressing a button
turn up (2)
If someone turns up somewhere, they arrive without being expected or without telling anyone they'd be coming.