150 High Frequency Phrasal Verbs: a – K

hear about
be told information regarding somebody or something
🔹  Let’s go for a coffee. I’m dying to hear about your trip to Costa Rica.
🔹  I hadn’t heard about John’s accident. Nobody told me.
🔹 We heard about the fire on the news.


hear from
get a letter, text, phone call etc from somebody
🔹  “Have you heard from Jack since he moved to Scotland?” – “Yes, he phoned me the other day actually.”
🔹  My job interview didn’t go at all well so I doubt I will hear from them again.
hear of
know of somebody or somebody’s existence
🔹 I was absolutely amazed when Paula said she had never heard of Madonna.
🔹 “Have you read ‘My Family and Other Animals?” -“No, I’ve never heard of it. What’s it about?”
🔹 “Have you heard of Lottie’s Bakery? They make wonderful celebration cakes.”
🔹 “Have you heard of an app called Shazam?” – “Yes, I have it on my phone.”


hold on
We use this to ask sb to wait [informal]
🔹 Hold on, I just need to check my diary.
(Synonym: hang on)


hold up
delay
🔹  Many flights were held up because of the stormy weather.
🔹  Our guests haven’t arrived yet. I wonder what is holding them up.


hurry up
do something faster, or move faster
🔹  Why aren’t you ready for school? Hurry up!
🔹  Hurry up! The bus leaves in a few minutes.


keep from
prevent somebody from doing something
🔹 Keep the dog from going into the kitchen, please.
🔹 It’s okay, I can talk to you later. I don’t want to keep you from your work.


keep on
continue doing something or do something repeatedly
🔹  I shouted to Laura but she kept on walking.
🔹  It’s okay to make mistakes in English, but don’t keep on making the same ones again and again!


keep up (with)
maintain the same speed, level, etc
🔹  Jen was walking so fast that I couldn’t keep up with her. “Slow down,” I said.
🔹  The German class was just too advanced for me. I was finding it too hard to keep up.