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.
Crying out for (something is needed very urgently)
A few years ago the country was crying out for a change of government.
Cull from (to collect some information from various places)
Maya compiled a book containing a number of quotations culled from books and magazines.
Culminate in (if an event culminates in something, it ends with it)
Charles had a series of issues with the management which culminated in his leaving the company.
Curl up (to lie with your back curved and your knees close to your stomach)
Jane curled up on the sofa with a novel in her hand.
Cut across (to go from one side of an area to the other instead of going round it)
We decided to cut across the park to save time.
Cut back (to reduce the amount of money spent on something)
The government is cutting back in defence budget.
Cut down (if you cut down a tree, it falls to the ground)
We had to cut down a few coconut trees to have a bigger playground.
Cut in (to interrupt two people who are dancing in order to dance with one of them)
“Can I cut in?” Roy asked, looking at Muriel.
Cut off (to stop providing something)
Water has been cut off for non-payment of bills.
Cut out (to remove part of a piece of writing)
The reporter cut out the offending paragraph before handing over the copy to the editor.
Be cut out (to have the right qualities for something)
After passing my law examinations I found that I was not cut out to be a lawyer.
Cut through (if you cut through something that causes problems, you quickly deal with it)
There should be some way to cut through red tape.
Be cut up (to be very upset about something)
Rosanne seemed pretty cut up about her grandmother’s death.
Dabble in / with (to be involved in an activity for a short period of time)
George dabbled in advertising before starting his career as a journalist.
Dam up (to build a wall across a river)
The river was dammed up to build a reservoir.
Dash off (to write something very quickly)
Leon could dash off a detective story in a few hours.
Deal in (to buy and sell goods)
My father used to deal in antiques before he joined the army.
Deal out (to give a punishment)
The judge dealt out the same punishment to all the accused in the robbery case.