Phrasal Verbs - Cheat Sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for mastering phrasal verbs in the Civil Service Examination. Essential definitions, common patterns, and exam-critical examples.
Core Concept
Important facts
- Most phrasal verbs have multiple meanings depending on context
- Context clues are essential for determining correct meaning
- Same phrasal verb can have completely different meanings in different sentences
- Cannot translate word-for-word to understand meaning
Key definitions
Phrasal Verb
Example
turn around (change direction) vs turn around (change of fate)
A verb combined with an adverb, preposition, or both, creating idiomatic meanings that cannot be deduced from individual words
Idiomatic Meaning
Example
break up (end relationship) not literally breaking something up
Non-literal meaning that differs from the sum of its parts
BEAR Phrasal Verbs
Important facts
- bear on = relates to/affects
- bear up = stay strong/endure
- bear with = be patient
- bear witness to = testify/prove
Key definitions
bear on
Example
Your speech does not bear on the current issue
to relate to or affect something
bear up
Example
Filipinos can easily bear up despite adversity
to remain strong despite difficulties
bear with
Example
Please bear with his slow driving
to be patient with someone
bear witness to
Example
The documents bear witness to his innocence
to testify or give evidence about something
BREAK Phrasal Verbs
Important facts
- break into = enter illegally
- break off = separate/detach
- break out = start suddenly (epidemic/war)
- break up = stop fight/end relationship
- break down = malfunction/collapse
Key definitions
break into
Example
Thieves broke into the millionaire's house
to enter forcibly or illegally
break off
Example
He broke off a piece of bread
to separate a piece from something
break out
Example
A dengue outbreak broke out in Luzon
to start suddenly (disease, war, fire)
break up
Example
Police broke up the fight between drunk men
to stop a fight or end a relationship
break down
Example
The car broke down on the highway
to stop working or collapse emotionally
BRING Phrasal Verbs
Important facts
- bring on = cause to happen
- bring out = reveal/show
- bring up = mention topic OR raise children
- bring off = accomplish successfully
Key definitions
bring on
Example
Poor hygiene can bring on numerous diseases
to cause something to happen
bring out
Example
Practice brings out a person's pure potential
to reveal or show clearly
bring up
Example
You should bring up your suggestion to the panel
to mention a topic or raise children
bring off
Example
He managed to bring off the impossible task
to succeed in doing something difficult
CALL Phrasal Verbs
Important facts
- call for = demand/require
- call in = summon/request presence
- call off = cancel
- call on = visit/ask to speak
- call out = shout/challenge
Key definitions
call for
Example
Heinous crimes call for punishment
to demand or require
call in
Example
You should call in a doctor for emergencies
to summon or request someone's presence
call off
Example
I called off the meeting due to emergency
to cancel something
call on
Example
The teacher called on the student to answer
to visit or ask someone to speak
call out
Example
We need to call out students' attention
to shout loudly or challenge someone
High-Frequency Exam Phrasal Verbs
Important facts
- carry on = continue
- carry out = execute/perform
- come up = occur/happen
- cope with = deal with successfully
- cut down = reduce/fell trees
- give up = surrender/quit
Key definitions
carry on
Example
They carried on with their tasks despite distractions
to continue doing something
carry out
Example
Police must carry out the laws
to perform or execute a task
come up
Example
Civil Service Exam comes up biannually
to occur or happen (events)
cope with
Example
You need to cope with life's problems
to deal with difficulties successfully
cut down
Example
No more trees shall be cut down
to reduce in number or to fell trees
give up
Example
Never give up in times of difficulties
to surrender or stop trying
Must remember
- Phrasal verbs have idiomatic meanings - context determines meaning
- Same phrasal verb can have multiple completely different meanings
- bear up = endure, bear on = relate to, bear with = be patient
- break into = enter illegally, break out = start suddenly, break up = stop/end
- bring on = cause, bring out = reveal, bring up = mention/raise
- call for = require, call off = cancel, call out = shout/challenge
- carry on = continue, carry out = execute/perform
- come up = occur/happen, cope with = deal with successfully
- give up = surrender/quit, cut down = reduce/fell
- Context clues are essential for determining correct meaning in CSE exam
Last minute tips
- Read the entire sentence - context determines which meaning applies
- Look for clue words around the phrasal verb (emergency, meeting, fight, etc.)
- Eliminate obviously wrong answers first - many options won't fit the context
- Practice with the exact phrasal verbs from CSE past exams - they repeat frequently
- Remember: if it sounds too literal, it's probably wrong - phrasal verbs are idiomatic
Comparison tables
Multiple Meanings of Common Phrasal Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | Meaning 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| turn around | change direction | change of fate | rotate/pivot |
| take off | remove clothing | depart/leave | airplane departure |
| bring up | mention a topic | raise children | vomit |
| back up | support someone | make copies | move backward |
| break up | end relationship | stop a fight | disintegrate |
Phrasal Verbs by Context
| Context | Common Phrasal Verbs | Typical Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Relationships | break up, make up, get along | end, reconcile, be friendly |
| Business/Work | carry out, call off, bring up | execute, cancel, mention |
| Movement | turn around, back up, pull over | change direction, reverse, stop aside |
| Problems | cope with, give up, work out | handle, quit, solve |
Diagrams
Phrasal Verbs Concept Map
Overview of phrasal verb structure, features, and common groupings for systematic learning
Context Analysis Strategy
Step-by-step approach to determining correct phrasal verb meaning using context clues
Multiple Meaning Recognition Process
How to differentiate between multiple meanings of the same phrasal verb using contextual analysis