Phrasal Verb

Definition

Example

lay  away +

save for the future

Why don't you lay away your wedding outfit?

lay down +

establish (laws, rules)

Lori lays down the law in her class. English only!

lay in on +

scold or criticize severely

My mom really laid in on me when I got home at 4:00 in the morning last night.

lay into +

scold or criticize severely

I saw Reto's mom lay into him when he came home late last night.

lay * off +

suspend someone from a job (during a slow period)

The company was losing money, so they had to lay off 100 workers.

lay * out +

arrange

Why don't we lay the pieces of the table out before we put it together.

leave * out +

not include, omit

Why did your parents leave you out of their vacation plans?

let * down

disappoint

I felt let down when I didn't receive a birthday card from my sister.

let * down

lengthen (pants in sewing)

My uncle is a tailor, so he can let your pants down.

let * out

release 

I am happy my brother was let out of prison early.

let * out

make bigger (in sewing)

I need to let out this skirt because I have gained weight.

let up

weaken in intensity

I told her NO a thousand times, but she won't let up.

lie down

rest, recline 

I need to lie down before we go out tonight.

lie down on +

rest, recline ( on a couch, bed)

I'm going to lie down on the sofa for a while.

lie with +

be decided by

Whether or not you can go to the party lies with your father.

light * up +

illuminate

讯享网

Let's get some candles to light this room up.

light up +

to smoke

Do you have to light up another cigarette? I thought you were trying to cut down.

live * down +

live in a way that a shameful or embarrassing event is forgotten

Jose will never live down singing that song at the karaoke bar.

live on +

survive from

I could live on bread and cheese.

live up to +

keep a standard 

It would be hard to live up to her parent's expectations.  They are so demanding.

look after +

take care of (a child, a house, a pet)

When my sister goes on vacation, I look after her dog.

look back on +

to remember nostalgically

When I look back on my childhood, I often feel angry.

look down on +

see as inferior

She's so conceited. She looks down on everybody else.

look for +

to seek or search for

I'm looking for my keys. Have you seen them?

look forward to +

anticipate with pleasure

I am looking forward to traveling to New York next year.

look into +

investigate

The police are looking into the murder.

look on

observe as a spectator

Everybody just looked on as the two men fought.

look out

be careful, pay attention, heed a certain danger

Look out, there's a black widow spider on the wall.

look * over +

examine, review

When I'm camping, I look my shoes over before I put them on.

look * up +

search for (in a dictionary) 

I takes time to look up new vocabulary words.

look * up +

locate and visit

If you ever travel to California, you should look me up.

look up to +

respect, admire someone

He looks up to his father.