Native English speakers use these essential expressions, also known as phrasal verbs, in everyday language all the time.

When you are learning English these phrases can be confusing.

Why?

They are made up of two words, that when put together, have a different meaning to the two words separately...

What is a phrasal verb?

It is two words that are put together to create a new verb.

Chill out

Is a phrasal verb.

Chill - is used to describe feeling cold. "I feel a chill, is there a door open?"

Out - is used when you are away from a place, or at a distance from it. "I'm going out."

The two words put together mean something completely different...to relax!

Other examples include:

Dress up

To put on smart clothes to do something, like go out for dinner or go to a wedding!

• "I'm going to dress up tonight as my husband is taking me out for dinner."

End up

To eventually reach a destination

• "We should book a table for dinner, we don't want to end up at that horrible burger place again."

  
  

Find out

To discover something or work it out.

• "Can you find out why Ben wasn't at the meeting today?"

Get away

To go on holiday for a short time.

• "I've had such a busy time recently, I really need to get away for a few days to relax."

Get through

To endure an unpleasant experience.

• "I only have one more meeting to get through and then it's the weekend!"

Give up

To stop doing something because you cannot do it any more.

• "I have to give up coaching the football team because my new job is further away."

Figure out

To find a solution to something.

• "We have invited a lot of people to our wedding. We now need to figure out a seating plan!"

Hand in

To submit something, for example a school assignment.

• "You need to hand in your biology report before the end of this week."

Keep up

To continue doing something. It can be used with sport or mental challenges.

• "I don't go running with my husband because I wouldn't be able to keep up with him." (run as fast as him)

• "You need to keep up your piano practice if you want to pass your exam."

Put on

To wear something

• "I always put on my walking boots when I go walking in the Cotswolds."

See to

To make sure that something is done. You can use this when promise to be responsible for a task.

• "I will see to the presentation so you don't need to worry about that."

Take after

To look or behave like someone else you are related to.

• "Anna takes after her Dad when it comes to sport, they both support Arsenal and enjoy playing golf."

Turn up

To arrive somewhere such as a meeting or a party.

• "You can rely on Tom, he always turns up on time."

Wake up

To stop sleeping and become awake.

• "I need to wake up early tomorrow. I have a train to catch."

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