300 Phrasal Verbs

1. Come around to (an opinion/idea): change an idea / see a new point of view ប្តូរគំនិត ប្តូរចិត្ត ប្រែចិត្ត

• I came around to the new job after I heard about the benefits.
• At first I didn't want to move to Cambodia, but I came around after I visited.

2. Get across (a point / message) : clearly / effectively communicate យល់អោយច្បាស់ ប្រាកដថា

• Make sure you get across that the project's over-budget.
• What I'm trying to get across is the project is over-budget.

3. Show off : deliberately display abilities/skills/accomplishments to impress people អួត សង្ហាញ

• Don't show off.
• You should show off your skills and abilities during an interview.

4. Count on (Rely/depend on): trust someone/something to complete 

a task/objective: ពឹងពាក់លើ ទុកចិត្តលើ សង្ឃឹមលើ 

> I can always count on Toma to stay late.

> Can I count on you to close the deal? Absolutely, you can count on me!

5. Come between: disturb a relationship: (business, social, family, romantic) ជ្រៀតជ្រែក រំខាន មានវត្តមាន ក្រោយមានវត្តមាន

> Á and B were best friends until C came between them!

> ...the promotion, the new job, their family, their politics, religion, money... came between them...

6. Put up with sb/st : tolerate bad/unwanted behavior 

> I don't know how you put up with your boss.

> I'm not going to put up with your constant criticism any longer! 

7. Bounce back : Recover/recuperate | used it from a negative situation or business contents (bad sales, illness...) : ងើបឡើងវិញ ស្រង់ឡើងវិញ ប្រសើរឡើងវិញ ល្អឡើងវិញ ស្រោចស្រង់ឡើងវិញ លក់បានវិញ 

> I don't know how we'll bounce back from our loss in Q1. 

> Does anyone have any idea on how we will bounce back?

> It took her a while to bounce back after her surgery. 

8. Act up : behave badly/strangely ខុសប្រក្រតី ចម្លែកៗ មានបញ្ហា

It is very commonly used with parents describing the action of their young children, or even with their older children. Or also used with devices or an object.

> Your son keeps acting up!

> My computer keeps acting up! I hope it doesn't break.

9. Make it up to someone : try to compensate for wrongdoing ព្យាយាមធ្វើលុបលាង ទូរទាត់ លួងចិត្តវិញ ផ្តល់អ្វីម្យ៉ាងអោយវិញ ដើម្បីជំនួសកំហុសឆ្គង ឬកង្វះខាតដែលបានប្រព្រឹត្ត

> I'm sorry I can't make your birthday party. I promise I'll make it up to you! (....by take you out for a nice dinner....by buying you an expensive and luxury car...)

> How are we going to make it up to the client?

> We can make it up to them by offering a discount.

10. Barge in : enter a place unexpectedly and interrupt ចូលមក ដើរចូលមក (ដោយគ្មានការណាត់ជួបទុកជាមុន) 

> I was in my office working and this kid just barged in and handed me this resume. (No appointment)

11. Abide by : accept / follow a decision/rule/regulation គៅរពតាម អនុវត្តតាម ប្រកាន់ខ្ជាប់ ទទួលយក (ការសម្រេចចិត្តរបស់តុលាការ សេចក្តីសម្រេច វិន័យ ច្បាប់)

> As a tourist, you have to abide by the rules of the country you're visiting.

> As a company staff, you have to abide by your company's internal policy. 

12. Dawn on : finally realize/understand ចុងក្រោយទើបដឹង ឬយល់ ទីបំផុតភ្ញាក់ខ្លួន ទីបំផុតដឹងខ្លួន

(something dawns on someone/It dawn on someone)

> One day it just dawn on me that I need to change careers. 

13. Pull off : be able to do something difficult/unlikely to do អាចធ្វើទៅកើត (រឿងដែលពិបាកធ្វើ ឬគិតថាទៅមិនរួច)

> I don't know if I can pull that off.

> I can't believe that I pulled that off.

14. Back out of : fail to keep a commitment or promise បរាជ័យ ធ្វើមិនបានតាមការសន្យា បដិសេធ មិនមិនបានតាមការសន្យា

(An excellent business phrasal verb used when you failed to keep a commitment or a promise)

> I can't believe the client backed out at the last minute!

> I can't believe that the client backed out of the plan at the last minute.

(of + the plan/the project/proposal...)

15. Clam up : be unable to speak (because of fear/nervousness)/refuse to speak និយាយមិនចេញ ភ័យនិយាយអត់កើត គាំងនិយាយមិនចេញ

(An excellent phrasal verb used in public speaking or you simply refuse to speak for whatever reason)

> I always clam up when I'm public speaking.

> If you feel like you're going to clam up, just take a deep breath. 

16. Mull over : think about/consider something (in order to make a decision) ពិចារណា គិត

(an idea, proposal, suggestion)

> Give me a few days to mull it over, and I'll get back to you.

17. Pan out : how a situation develops នឹងវិវឌ្ឍ ឬប្រែប្រួលទៅជាយ៉ាងណា

> I'm not sure how the merger will pan out.

(The situation is the merger, we are talking about how the merge is going to go, how it's going to develop: will it be positive/negative/challenge/difficult/benefit...)

> The merger didn't pan out as we had expected.

18. Ramble on : talk at length without getting to the point និយាយមិនចូលសាច់រឿងឬប្រធានបទ និយាយចាកប្រធាន និយាយមិនចំចំណុច ឬនិយាយខុសរបៀបវារៈ

(especially used when you speak publicly and as a negative/criticism)

> He rambled on for 20 minutes.

> My boss always rambles on when he leads the meeting. 

19. Nod off : fall asleep (short period of time; when you shouldn't) 

to nod (one's head) ងោក ដេក (មួយប៉ព្រិចភ្នែក មួយស្រឡេត)

> I always listen to loud music when I drive alone, so I don't nod off!

20. Luck out : be lucky (in a specific situation) ហេង សំណាង

> I can't believe I lucked out and got the new iPhone for 50% off!

> I can't believe I lucked out and got such an amazing parking spot. 

> Wow, you really lucked out!

21. Rip (so) off : pay a price that is too high/unfair: លក់ថ្លៃជ្រុល ហួសហេតុ លក់កោរ កោរមិនដាក់ទឹក

> I can't believe I paid $100 for that! She ripped me off.

> She told everyone that I ripped her off, but it was a fair price!

22. Wear out : become damaged/weakened from age/use

> I wore out my tennis shoes last week.

Be worn out:

> I need to buy new tennis shoes because mine are worn out.

23. Draw up : prepare paperwork (for contracts, agreements, proposals) រៀបចំ ត្រៀម (កុងត្រា កិច្ចសន្យា កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង សំណើ)

> I asked my lawyer to draw up the paper.

> We're waiting for the back to draw up the mortgage agreement.

24. Burn out : feel exhausted from prolonged stress នឿយហត់ អស់កម្លាំងពីភាពតប់ប្រមល់រយៈពេលយូរ

> I burned out my last job.

> I burned out after caring my aging parents.

25. Look up to so : admire, respect​ គោរព ទុកដូច ផ្តល់តម្លៃ ចាត់ទុក

> I looked up to him like a father.

> I really look up to my boss. 

26. Step (it) up : try/work harder/faster : បង្កើនល្បឿន ប្រឹងឡើង ខំឡើង

> We need to step it up if we're going to meet the deadline.

* Step it up a notch : work (a little bit) harder/faster

27. Hone in on st : focus on one thing : ផ្តោតលើអ្វីមួយ យកចិត្តទុកដាក់លើ

> If we want to get customers, we should hone in on small business owners. 

> For the presentation, we should hone in on Cambodia.

28. Bring up : begin a discussion on a specific topic : ចាប់ផ្តើមពិភាក្សា ឬចូលប្រធានបទជាក់លាក់

> Before we end the meeting, does anyone have anything to bring up?

> I didn't have a chance to bring up the marketing proposal.

29. Talk so into st : convince sb to do st : បញ្ចុះបញ្ចូល នាំ ឬលើកយករឿងអ្វីមួយ

> She talked me into helping her move.

> My team talked me into bringing up the bonus at the staff meeting.

30. Stick around : stay in a location for a period of time : ស្នាក់នៅកន្លែងណាមួយជាក់លាក់ បន្តនៅ នៅបន្ត មិនទាន់ទៅ

> Do you want to share an Uber?

> No, I'm going to stick around a little bit longer.

> I can't stick around very long because I have a meeting.

31. Take up (time/space) : occupy/fill ស៊ីពេល ស៊ីម៉ោង ប្រើពេល ប្រើម៉ោងអស់ អស់កន្លែង

> This meeting took up my whole morning.

> I need a new bed because my current bed takes up too much apace!

> Can you move your bag please, it's taking up too much space!

32. Branch out : expand ពង្រីក

> Let's branch out into new markets!

> We need to branch out into new markets.

> Do you think Google should branch out into the automobile market?

33. Jot down : write down កត់ត្រា ធ្វើកំណត់ត្រា សរសេរ (ណូត) ពេលប្រជុំ

> In the meeting I jotted down a new notes.

> Can you jot this down?

> Please help me to jot it down in your phone during the meeting.

> Did you jot down the date of the conference?

34. Carry out : perform/conduct អនុវត្ត ធ្វើ

> Next week we're carrying out our customer surveys.

> Who carried out the presentation last week?

35. Keep up with st (a task) : make sufficient progress (on st) ធ្វើអោយបានគ្រប់គ្រាន់ ធ្វើអោយល្អគ្រប់គ្រាន់ ធ្វើអោយប្រសើរគ្រប់គ្រាន់ ធ្វើអោយល្អគ្រប់គ្រាន់

> You've kept up with the orders.

> You haven't kept up with the orders. (You haven't made sufficient progress...)

(Used with many tasks: Keep up with your study/reading/performance report/filing/scheduling...)

> You need to work faster if you want to keep up with private sector.

36. Fill out/in a form : complete a form បំពេញ បំពេញទម្រង់ ឬឯកសារ

> Please fill out your application. (...fill in your application)

> Did you fill in/out your loan application yesterday?

37. Drop in : visit មកលេង សួរសុខទុក្ខ ទស្សនា

(Used in a social and business content)

> How about I drop in on Sunday morning?

> I wasn't expecting you to drop in until later!

38. Push back (an event) : postpone/delay ពន្យារពេល លើកពេល

> Please push the meeting back until next month.

> My son is too busy, so I decide to push his birthday back on the 9th of August.

> I don't think pushing back the wedding until next year is an option!

39. Call off (an event) : cancel បដិសេធ មិនធ្វើ មិនរៀបចំ កែប្រែផ្លាស់ប្តូរ

> Let's call off the conference. Attendance is too low.

> Did you hear they called off their wedding?

40. Sort out : organize/fix កែ កែឡើងវិញ ធ្វើម្តងទៀត រៀបចំឡើងវិញ 

> I need to short out my travel plans.

41. Tune out : stop listening to someone because you don't like what they're saying. ឈប់ស្តាប់ លែងចង់ស្តាប់ លែងស្តាប់ 

* Tune someone out

> I always tune out my mom when she gives me relationship advice. 

> I've learned to tune out my mother when she tries to give me relationship advice. 

42. Tick off : annoy, anger or irritate ខឹង មួរម៉ៅ ក្តៅក្រហាយ

> It ticks me off when my co-worker doesn't help. 

* so/st ticks me off... ធ្វើអោយនរណាម្នាក់ខឹង ឬមួរម៉ៅ

> He really ticks me off. 

> It really ticked me off when A took credit for my work in the meeting. 

43. Take up : Speak about so/st in a very beneficial/ positive way និយាយពីរឿងល្អៗ ឬទាញផលប្រយោជន៍ បែបវិជ្ជមាន

> You're going to talk up that software!

> You're going to talk up your friend (to the hiring manager). 

> You don't need to talk up your team, I've heard great things about the work they're doing.

44. Pile up : increase in amount បង្កើន ឬកើនចំនួន កើនឡើង​ គរ

> Work is really piling up!

> My expense reports are piling up. 

> The expense reports have been piling up since A's been gone. 

45. Mope around : move around in an unhappy, lazy or disappointed way មិនដឹងធ្វើអី នៅមិនសុខ រសាប់រសល់ដើរដេកៗ

> He's been moping around the house all week.

> Stop moping around! And look for a job!

> He's been moping around like this since he lost the contract.

46. Loosen up : become more relaxed or comfortable, less serious ស្បើយ ធូរស្រាល លែងសូវខ្វល់ 

> She was very shy at first, but then she loosened up! (she became more relaxed / comfortable)

> Loosen up! (You need to loosen up!)

> She used to be very serious all the time, but she has loosened up a bit.  

47. Kick off : start an event (game, meetings, party, etc) ចាប់ផ្តើម

> The game kicks off at 2:00.

>  Let's kick off the meeting by introducing the new MD.

> Should we kick off the party with some karaoke?

48. Horse around : behave in a silly/noisy way ប្រព្រឹត្តខុសប្រក្រតី ធ្វើនេះធ្វើនោះក្នុងវិធីមិនសូវល្អ បង្ករភាពរញ៉េរញ៉ៃ

> They kids were horsing around and they broke my favorite glass.

> My team constantly horses around!

> The CEO is coming today so make sure your staff doesn't horse around while she's here.

49. Get by : have just enough money to survive, but not much more រស់ អាចរស់បាន ទប់បាន ចាយ ឬចំណាយគ្រប់ (គ្រាន់ទៅរួច មិនមានច្រើន ម៉ាគ្រាន់)

> Since our twins were born, it's been more difficult to get by.

> Well, I'm getting by. 

> We're on a tight budget but we have enough to get by.

50. Flip out : become very excited or become very angry រំភើប ឬភ្ញាក់ផ្អើល ខឹង មួរម៉ៅ ច្រឡោតខឹង មិនសប្បាយចិត្ត

> My team flipped out when they won! (very excited)

 > The team flipped out when they lost! (very angry)

> My boss is going to flip out when she finds out we didn't land the account. 

51. Ache for : really want so/st

(Used in a context of romantic relationship, friend, family, colleaage...)

> He was lonely and aching for love.

> She is aching for her boyfriend.

> My girlfriend is studying abroad and I'm really aching for her.

52. Beef up : make st/sb stronger or more important

(Also used in a context of body builder - health or fitness context)

> I need to beef up my resume.

> I need to beef up my communication skills.

> Tommy took this job to beef up his marketing research experience. 

53. Make up (with so): forgive someone after an argument/dispute

> You need to make up with little sister.

> You need to make up with your him as you used to be closed friends.

> You need to make up with your colleague because you work in the same team.

> You've been arguing for months. It's about time you made up!

54. Nail down : understand the exact details / make a firm decision

(Used in a business or social context)

> You need to nail down those details.

> Have you nailed down who's going to give the presentation?

55. Open up (to so about st) : share your personal feelings or emotions (that you normally don't share)

> After years, she finally opened up about her father's relationship with that girl. 

> ...she finally opened up to her mother about her father's relationship with that girl.

> I have never opened up to anyone like this before!

> Sometimes it's easier to open up to a trained professional, like a therapist. 

56. Slip into (st) : quickly put on a piece of clothing

> After this, I am going to slip into a T-shirt. (I am going to put on a T-shirt)

> Why don't you slip into something more comfortable?

57. Stand by st : still support or believe an idea/opinion

> We stand by our opinion that interest rates need to increase.

* stand by sb : support so, especially in a difficult time

> No worry! I'll sand by you because I do believe your honest. 

> Before I said we need to diversify our product line, and I stand by that.

58. Wind down : relax after a busy/stressful day

> I always read at the end of the day to wind down.

> go for a walk after work to wind down.

> I always have a cup of tea at night to help me wind down after a busy day.

59. Zone out : stop paying attention for a short period of time

> Whenever people talk about sports, I zone out. (not interested in... just stop listening and start thinking about other things...)

> The party was fun, but I zoned out when they started talking about politics. 

60. Turn in : go to bed

> I'm tired, I'm going to turn in. (I'm going to bed.)

> What time did you turn in last night?

> It's getting late and you have an interview tomorrow morning. You should turn in.

61. Act on : take action on information, advice, recommendations

> The manager acted on the findings of the report.

> We need to act on the recommendations.

> We need to act on the research findings.

> The SMT hasn't acted on any o four recommendation yet. 

62. Bargain for : expect something negative to happen

(Most commonly used in negative form)

> We hadn't bargained for for such a high interest rate. (we didn't expect)

> We hadn't bargained for so many people at the conference. 

> We hadn't bargained for so much negative feedback. 

63. Opt in : become a member, to join

> As a new employee, you need to opt into the insurance plan.

> If you want to join our mailing list, you can opt in on our website.

* Opt out : no longer be a member

> If you don't want to be a member, you need to be opt out.

64. Play down : make something seem less important/serious than it is in reality

> The government tried to play down the scandal.

> The documentary played down their divorce. 

65. Drop out : quit a course/school program

> Bill Gates dropped out of school to start Microsoft.

> Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of school to start Facebook.

> Think twice before you drop out of your school. 

66. Cut back : spend less, do less, use less of something

> The government has announced plans to cut back.

* Cut back on st

 > The government has announced plans to cut back on defense spending by 10%. 

> He drinks at least 10 cans of beer a day. He should cut back!

> The cake looks delicious, but I'm trying to cut back on sugar.

67. Sit in on : attend a meeting as an observer

(Great business phrasal verb)

> Is it ok if I sit in on the meeting today?

(if you are in sales team)

> It would be useful to have someone from accounting sit in on the meeting. 

(you just want them to be there to absorb information, but you don't expect them to participate or present anything)

> I know the meeting is for the sales team, but do you mind if I sit in (on it)?

68. Whip up : prepare food quickly

> I need to whip up my breakfast because I start work at 7:30.

> Give me a few minutes to whip up some appetizers.

> Let's order take out, I don't have time to whip up anything before parents arrive. 

69. Dress up : wear more professional/formal clothing for a specific occasion

> She always dresses up in a wedding party.

> Do I need to dress up?

> There's no need to dress up.

> You need to dress up for the dinner tomorrow. We're going to a nice restaurant.

70. Get at st : when someone "gets at something", they try to explain what they mean

> I'm not sure what you're getting at. (I'm not sure what you mean, I'm not sure what you're trying to explain)

> What I'm trying to get at is we need to cut back.

> I read your email, but it's not clear to me what you're getting at. 

71. Bear on : be connected to /related to

> I don't see how that information bears on this case. 

* Bear on : influence/affect

> Our relationship didn't bear on my decision. (maybe you have a relationship with a contractor...)

> I assure you that your gender didn't bear on our hiring decision.

72. Care for st : like something 

(Commonly used in the negative)

> I don't care for chocolate cake. (I don't like it.)

> I don't care for reality TV.

> She doesn't care for fizzy drinks.

73. Perk up : feel better, happier, more energized

> Coffee perks me up. (Makes more energized)

> The flowers perked her up. (Made her more energize or feel happier)

> I know you're tired, but maybe a walk around the block will perk you up. 

74. Sift through : examine large amounts of information to determine what's valuable 

> After A quit, I had to sift through all his files.

> Can you help me sift through these photo albums? (examine what pictures you want to keep...)

> Can you help me sift through your grandfather's sold letters?

75. Wrap up : end or finish something specific, like a meeting, conference, party

(Very commonly used in a business context)

> Alright everyone, let's wrap up for today!

> Let's wrap it up (for today).

> How should we wrap up the conference? (how should we finish or end...)

> It's getting late, so let's wrap (it) up and we'll continue this discussion tomorrow. 

76. Flip through : quickly read a book, report, magazine, etc. (go through, look through)

(if you just need specific piece of information)

> This book is too long to read, you can just flip through it.

> I haven't read the report yet, but I flipped through it and it looks really beneficial. 

77. Draw out : make something last longer than necessary or needed

(Usually used in a negative context)

> He really drew out his speech!

> They really drew out the ending of the movie!

> I think you drew out the introduction a little too much. Otherwise, it was a great presentation! 

78. Fall behind : make less progress than wanted or needed

(Great phrasal used for both business or personal content)

> You might fall behind if you don't try enough!

> With Tommy on vacation and his friend off sick, the whole team has fallen behind. 

79. Get around : move from place to place (within a specific location, like a city)

> What's the best way to get around in your city?

> You can get around on foot.  (walk from location to location...)

> You definitely need a car to get around. 

> It's so easy to get around by subway in Phnom Penh city.

80. Put off : delay or postpone

> Let's put off the meeting until next week.

> I've been putting off asking my boss for a raise.  (things that are unpleasant they don't want to do)

> You've been putting off calling your mother for weeks! Just get it over with already! 

@ 1:25