Phrasal verbs are an important feature of the English language. The meaning of a phrasal verb often bears no relation to the meaning of either the verb or the particle which is used with it. Many Phrasal verbs have several different meanings.
Cook up (to make a meal quickly)
While we were playing, mother cooked up a large pot of vegetable soup.
Cool down (to become cooler)
I waited until my tea had cooled down before taking a sip.
Coop up (to keep someone in a small area) The prisoners were cooped up in tiny cells.
Copy down (to write on a piece of paper what someone says)
The students sat copying down the teacher’s words.
Copy out (to copy a piece of writing on a piece of paper)
Shehan copied out the poem in his exercise book.
Cordon off (to put something around an area to prevent people from entering it)
Police cordoned off the city after the bomb explosion.
Be couched in (to be expressed in a particular way)
The contract was couched in incomprehensible legal terminology.
Cough up (to bring a substance into your mouth from your lungs or throat by coughing)
The patient started coughing up blood.
Cough up (to give money for something unwillingly)
Father had to cough up Rs 20,000 for my motorcycle.
Count against (to make someone more likely to fail)
I had all the educational qualifications for the job, but my age counted against me.
Count among (to be included as part of a group)
I knew her for a long time but didn’t count her among my loyal friends.
Count down (to wait for an important event to happen)
She was counting down the days for her wedding.
Count for (if a quality counts for something, it is important)
Educational qualifications always count for when you apply for a job.
Count in (to include someone in an activity)
Can I count you in for the trip to Sigiriya?
Count on (to have confidence in someone)
You can always count on me in a crisis.
Count out (not to include someone in an activity)
If you are going to the gym so early, you can count me out!
Count towards (to be part of what is needed to complete something)
What you do today will count towards your success in the examination. Count up (to add together all the people in a group) Can you count up how many students are coming for my lecture?