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.
Switch off (to turn off an electrical device by using a switch)
Could you switch that light off, please?
Switch on (to turn on an electrical device by using a switch)
She switched on the light before entering the room.
Switch over (to change from one method to another)
Old people switch over to low fat milk.
Tag along (to go somewhere with someone, especially when they have not asked you to go with them)
If you’re going to the book exhibition, do you mind if I tag along?
Tag onto (to add something to what you have said or written)
Could you take this passage and tag it onto the main article?
Tail off (if somebody’s voice tails off, it becomes quieter and then stops)
Grandmother wanted to tell me something but her voice tailed off.
Tail off (to decrease in amount or level)
Initially, many people had a lot of interest in the new political party, but it has begun to tail off.
Take aback (if something takes you aback, you are very surprised by it)
She was taken aback to discover that the police inspector was someone known to her.
Take after (to have a similar appearance or character as an older member of your family)
Brown is very tall – he takes after his father.
Take along (to take someone or something with you when you go somewhere)
You’d better take along a bottle of water.
Take apart (to separate something into its different parts)
The mechanic began to take my bike apart and clean it.
Take around (to walk through a building with someone showing them the most important places)
The guide took us around the old palace.
Take aside (to separate someone from a group of people so that you can speak to them privately)
He took her aside and asked why she was late.
Take away (to remove something from where it is and put it somewhere else)
A young man came to take our plates away.
Take back (to return something to the person you brought it from)
I want to take this shirt back and get a refund.
Take down (to write something someone says)
The officer took down my statement.
Take in (to let somebody stay in your house)
You can earn some extra money by taking in university students.
Take off (to remove something, especially something you are wearing)
We took off our shoes before entering the temple.
Take on (to begin to employ someone)
Most supermarkets take on extra staff during Christmas.
Take out (to remove something from a particular place)
The dentist took out one of my decayed teeth.
Take out on (to treat someone badly because you are angry with them)
I know you are in a bad mood, but don’t try to take it out on me!
Take over (to get control of a company by buying most of its shares)
The company I was working for was taken over by the Government.
Take to (to start to like someone or something)
I really took to her thinking that she was a lovely girl.
Take up (to start doing a particular job or activity)
Have you ever thought of taking up singing?
Take upon (to decide to do something without asking anyone)
He took it upon himself to give me an appointment.
Talk round (to persuade someone to agree with you)
I think I can talk her round.
Talk at (to talk to someone without listening to them)
Peter is someone who always talks at me.
Talk back (if someone talks back, they reply rudely to someone they should be polite to)
You should not talk back to your parents.
Talk down (to speak loudly to prevent someone else from speaking)
She tried to explain, but he just talked her down.
Talk down to (to talk to someone as if they were less clever than you)
The speaker was talking down to us as if we were idiots.