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.
Talk into (to persuade someone to do something)
I don’t know whether he’ll agree to sell the house, but you can talk him into it.
Talk out (to discuss a problem in order to find a solution)
He is a psychotherapist, you can talk out your problems with him.
Talk out of (to persuade someone not to do something)
I tried to talk him out of it, but he remained adamant.
Talk over (to discuss a problem, especially before making a decision)
I’d like to talk things over with the principal before making a decision.
Talk through (to discuss all the details of something so that you can understand it)
Let’s talk things through before we sign the deed.
Tamp down (to press something so that it becomes firm)
The farmer filled the hole and tamped down the earth.
Tamper with (to touch or change something without permission)
My briefcase has been tampered with and an important document is missing.
Be tangled up in (to be trapped in something and unable to move)
My kite got tangled up in the branches of a tree.
Tap for (to get money from somebody)
Why don’t you tap your uncle for a loan?
Tap into (to use part of a large supply of something for your own advantage)
There is a lot of information on the Internet waiting to be tapped into.
Tap out (to hit a surface lightly making repeated patterns of sound)
The boy tapped out his favourite rhythm on the desk.
Tape up (to fasten a box or parcel by putting tape)
I taped up the parcel and took it to the post office.
Tart up (to make yourself look more attractive by using makeup)
She tarted herself up for the party.
Tax with (to accuse somebody of doing something wrong)
The manager taxed the clerk with negligence.
Team up (if two or more people team up, they form a group in order to do something)
We are going to team up with the school cricket team for the tournament.
Tear apart (to pull something violently so that it breaks into small pieces)
She threatened to tear the letter apart in anger.
Tear at (to pull pieces off something in a violent way)
The two men fought tearing at each other’s clothes.
Tear away (to force someone to stop doing something that they enjoy)
Don’t try to tear yourself away from studies.
Tear down (to destroy a building)
Workers have arrived to tear down the old building.
Tear into (to criticize someone or something strongly)
Roy tore into Rosy accusing her of trying to destroy his career.
Tear off (to remove clothing quickly and carelessly)
Bob tore off his clothes and jumped into the river.
Tear up (to tear something into small pieces)
If you send me any more threatening letters, I’ll tear them up!
Tease out (to try to understand something that is not clear)
After the lecture, some students tried to tease out what he meant by certain terms.
Teem down (to rain very heavily)
It has been teeming down the whole day.
Teem with (to contain large numbers of animals or people)
The auditorium was teeming with teenagers.
Tell apart (to be able to see the differences)
When the twins were small we could not tell them apart.
Tell from (if you can tell one person from a similar person, you are able to say the difference between them)
The two girls looked so similar and we could not tell one from the other.
Tell off (to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong)
I told him off for not doing the office work.
Tell on (to have a bad effect on somebody’s health or behaviour)
The strain of my work is beginning to tell on me.
Tend to (to deal with the problems of a person)
A young doctor tended to the injured soldier.
Tend towards (to show more of a particular quality than others)
The actor’s taste in clothes tends towards the theatrical.
Tense up (if you tense up, your muscles stiffen)
I could feel myself tense up when he turned to attack me.
Test out (to test a new idea by seeing how it works in a particular situation)
The new regulations are being tested out in government departments.
Thaw out (frozen foods thaw out when taken out of a freezer)
Thaw frozen meat thoroughly before cooking it.