LIST OF ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS (D)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
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X
Y
Z
Dash off:
To go or leave somewhere quickly; to run off.
Example:
"She dashed off to the store before I had a chance to speak to her."
Dawn on (somebody):
To come to the realization; to realize.
Example:
"It never dawned on me that she might be unhappy." = I never realized that she might be unhappy.
Decide against (doing something):
To decide not to (do something).
Example: "He decided against joining the military." IMPORTANT: In English, you can't decide 'for' doing something. The opposite of deciding 'against' doing something is simply 'deciding to do something'.
Die down:
To diminish in intensity.
Example:
"After the controversy died down, he was able to lead a normal life again."
Die for (something):
To really want (something).
Example:
"I'd die for some enchiladas right now."
Dig in:
To start eating.
Example:
"Dig in, boys. The food is getting cold!"
Dish out:
To dispense, give out. Often used in the phrase "to dish out criticism." Example:
"Sure, you can dish out criticism, but you can't take it yourself!"
Dig up:
To discover something that is supposed to be secret.
Example:
"The reporter dug up some information that might jeopardize the senator's campaign."
Dive in:
To start doing something enthusiastically, often without planning ahead.
Example:
"Don't think about it, just dive in."
Do away with:
To abolish.
Example:
"Most people in this country would like to do away with the death penalty."
Do over:
To do again.
Example:
"I'm sorry but that's not good enough. You'll have to do it over."
Do up:
When talking about clothes: to fasten, to button, etc.
Example:
"Could you help me do up the buttons at the back of my dress?"
Do without:
To manage without something.
Example:
"We're going to have to do without a car for a while."
Doze off:
To fall asleep.
Example:
"He dozed off for a couple of hours."
Dress up:
To wear elegant clothes.
Example:
"I love dressing up to go to the theater."
Drag on:
To last much longer than expected.
Example:
"I thought that film would be short, but it really dragged on."
Draw out:
To make something last longer than necessary. Often used in the passive form: to be "drawn out".
Example:
"His speech was really drawn out."
Draw up:
To organize. To create.
Example:
"The residents of the building drew up a plan to catch the thief."
Dream up:
To invent. To make up.
Drift off:
To fall asleep.
Example:
"He was drifting off during the lecture."
Drive (someone) out:
To make (someone) leave and/or stay away.
Example:
"The steep increase in rent prices drove out some long-time residents."
Drive up:
To raise. To cause to increase (prices, rates, etc.).
Example:
"The new policies drove up prices."
Drop by:
To visit someone unexpectedly.
Example:
"My parents dropped by last Saturday."
Drop in (on):
To visit someone unexpectedly.
Example:
"My parents dropped in on me last Saturday."
Drop off:
To deliver someone or something.
Example:
"I'll drop you off at around 7 PM."
Drop out of:
Quit/ stop going to (school, etc.)
Example:
"She dropped out of school last year, but now she wants to go back."
Dwell on (something):
To spend a lot of time thinking about something (often with a slightly negative connotation).
Example:
"Stop dwelling on the past!"