Confusing Phrasal Verbs

By Taylor, the Academic Coordinator at NYLC Midtown

Phrasal verbs can be very confusing, but they’re absolutely necessary if you want to understand and speak English fluently. Like any other vocabulary, always try to understand the meaning from the context. One phrasal verb can have a lot of different meanings. For example:

1. I made up an excuse for being late.
2. Jenny and her boyfriend had a big fight, but the finally made up.

Can you understand the difference? The phrasal verb to make up can mean to invent (as in the first example) or to resolve an argument (as in the second example).

Unfortunately, the context isn’t always enough to help you understand. Below you will find a few of the most commonly confused phrasal verbs, along with their meanings and examples.

PASS OUT versus PASS AWAY: Be careful with this one! If you confuse these two phrasal verbs, it could create a HUGE misunderstanding.

Pass Out: 

1. To faint; to lose consciousness 

Example: Joey passed out when the doctor took his blood. 

2. To fall asleep very fast
Example: I was so tired that I passed out on the sofa as soon as I got home.

Pass Away: To die
Example: He was very sad when his grandfather passed away.

You can see why confusing these two phrasal verbs could be very embarrassing!

FIND OUT versus FIGURE OUT: These two have very similar meanings, but there is a difference.

Figure Out: To solve or understand something by thinking and/or trying
Example: My grandmother can’t figure out how to use the computer

Find Out: To solve, understand or discover by getting information from some source (another person, the internet, etc.)
Example: I don’t know the address, but I’ll find out.

Basically, figuring out is something that happens in your mind, and finding out requires some outside information.

GROW UP versus BRING UP: Both of these are about children becoming adults, but be careful to use the right one. Parents bring up their children, and children grow up.

Grow Up: to mature/ to change from a child to an adult
Example: Vinny is a native New Yorker. He grew up in Brooklyn.

Bring Up: to raise/ to parent a child
Example: Her parents passed away, so she was brought up by her grandmother.

I hope that helps to clear up any confusion about those tricky phrasal verbs. If you have any questions about these or others, please post them in the comments below.

Keep on trying and never give up!