5 Common Phrasal Verbs, Meanings and Examples

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Turn in
The phrasal verb “turn in” has several meanings, depending on the context. Here are the most common meanings and examples:

1. **To submit or hand in something**:
– Example 1: “I need to turn in my homework by tomorrow morning.”
– Example 2: “The deadline for turning in job applications is next week.”

2. **To go to bed or go to sleep**:
– Example 1: “I’m feeling tired, so I’m going to turn in early tonight.”
– Example 2: “She turned in late last night after a long day at work.”

3. **To inform on or report someone to authorities**:
– Example: “He didn’t want to turn in his friends to the police, but he knew it was the right thing to do.”

4. **To change direction or orientation**:
– Example: “The road turns in the forest and becomes narrower.”

5. **To surrender or give oneself up to authorities, especially in a legal context**:
– Example: “The fugitive decided to turn himself in to the police.”

6. **To become a particular type or take on a specific form**:
– Example: “The discussion turned into a heated argument.”

7. **To produce or generate a profit or result**:
– Example: “Their hard work eventually turned in a substantial profit.”

The meaning of “turn in” in a sentence will depend on the surrounding context, so it’s essential to consider the situation when interpreting it.
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Turn on
The phrasal verb “turn on” has several meanings depending on the context. Here are the most common meanings and examples:

1. **To activate or start a machine, device, or appliance**:
– Example 1: “Please turn on the lights; it’s getting dark in here.”
– Example 2: “I turned on the TV to watch the news.”

2. **To cause someone to become interested or excited about something**:
– Example 1: “Her passionate speech turned the audience on to the importance of environmental conservation.”
– Example 2: “The new book turned him on to science fiction literature.”

3. **To sexually arouse or excite someone**:
– Example: “His suggestive comments and actions were intended to turn her on.”

4. **To attack or confront someone suddenly and unexpectedly** (informal, often used in a negative context):
– Example: “He’s the kind of person who can turn on you when you least expect it.”

5. **To become hostile or unfriendly toward someone, often without warning**:
– Example: “I thought we were friends, but she suddenly turned on me and started criticizing everything I did.”

6. **To rely on or trust someone or something**:
– Example: “In this job, you need to turn on your teammates; it’s a team effort.”

7. **To become functional or operational**:
– Example: “The heating system will turn on automatically when the temperature drops.”

The meaning of “turn on” in a sentence will depend on the context in which it is used, so it’s essential to consider the situation when interpreting it.
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Turn over
The phrasal verb “turn over” has several meanings, depending on the context. Here are the most common meanings and examples:

1. **To flip or rotate something so that the other side or surface is facing up**:
– Example 1: “Please turn over the page to continue reading.”
– Example 2: “He turned over the pancakes to cook the other side.”

2. **To transfer control or possession of something to someone else**:
– Example: “The business owner decided to turn over the company to his son when he retired.”

3. **To change or exchange one thing for another**:
– Example: “They turned over their old car for a new, more fuel-efficient model.”

4. **To produce or generate a certain amount of revenue or income**:
– Example: “The company turned over millions of dollars in profits last year.”

5. **To hand over or surrender someone or something to authorities, often implying arrest**:
– Example: “The police turned over the suspect to the detectives for questioning.”

6. **To think about or consider something carefully**:
– Example: “She spent the weekend turning over the idea of starting her own business.”

7. **To undergo a change or transition**:
– Example: “The company has turned over a new leaf and is now committed to sustainable practices.”

8. **To physically or figuratively bring something to a different position or orientation**:
– Example: “He turned over the soil in the garden to prepare it for planting.”

9. **To surrender or give up control of oneself** (often in the context of sleep or rest):
– Example: “After a long day at work, he finally turned over and fell asleep.”

The meaning of “turn over” in a sentence depends on the context in which it is used, so it’s important to consider the situation when interpreting it.
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Hook up
The phrasal verb “hook up” has several meanings, and its specific interpretation can vary depending on the context. Here are some common meanings and examples:

1. **To connect or link things together**:
– Example 1: “I need to hook up my computer to the printer so I can print this document.”
– Example 2: “They hooked up the speakers to the stereo system for better sound quality.”

2. **To meet with someone, often for a casual or romantic encounter**:
– Example 1: “They hooked up at the party last night and spent hours talking.”
– Example 2: “Are you two just friends, or did you actually hook up?”

3. **To engage in sexual activity or have a sexual encounter with someone**:
– Example 1: “They hooked up after the club closed and had a one-night stand.”
– Example 2: “Some people prefer to hook up rather than pursue long-term relationships.”

4. **To form a connection or alliance with someone or something**:
– Example 1: “The two companies decided to hook up to collaborate on a new project.”
– Example 2: “He managed to hook up with a renowned expert in his field for guidance.”

5. **To provide or supply someone with something, often informally**:
– Example: “Can you hook me up with a ride to the airport tomorrow?”

6. **To be attracted to or interested in something or someone**:
– Example: “I really hooked up with that new book; I couldn’t put it down.”

7. **To become associated with or involved in something**:
– Example: “She didn’t want to hook up with that group because of their bad reputation.”

The meaning of “hook up” in a sentence depends on the context, so it’s important to consider the situation when interpreting it, as it can range from connecting objects to engaging in social or romantic activities.
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Work out​
The phrasal verb “work out” has several meanings, and its specific interpretation can vary depending on the context. Here are some common meanings and examples:

1. **To exercise or engage in physical activity**:
– Example 1: “I try to work out at the gym for an hour every day.”
– Example 2: “She prefers to work out in the morning to boost her energy for the day.”

2. **To find a solution or resolve a problem**:
– Example 1: “We need to work out the details of the project before we can proceed.”
– Example 2: “I’m sure we can work out a compromise that benefits both parties.”

3. **To be successful or have a positive outcome**:
– Example 1: “Their plan to expand the business worked out well, and they saw significant growth.”
– Example 2: “I hope everything works out for you in your new job.”

4. **To calculate or determine a result, usually involving mathematics or numbers**:
– Example: “I need to work out the total cost of the project before presenting it to the client.”

5. **To engage in a training session or practice, often related to sports or fitness**:
– Example: “The team will work out their plays and strategies before the big game.”

6. **To spend time together and develop a romantic or social relationship**:
– Example: “They met at the conference and decided to work out their differences over dinner.”

7. **To endure or withstand difficulties, challenges, or hardships**:
– Example: “Their relationship has worked out despite the long-distance and time zone differences.”

8. **To wear or use something until it no longer functions properly**:
– Example: “I’ve been working out these old sneakers for years, but it’s time for a new pair.”

9. **To come to a conclusion or final decision**:
– Example: “After much discussion, they finally worked out that they should invest in the new technology.”

The meaning of “work out” in a sentence depends on the context in which it is used, so it’s important to consider the situation when interpreting it.

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