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.
Turn down (to refuse an offer or request)
I was offered a job at a hospital but I turned it down.
Turn in (to give something back to an organisation)
Many unlicensed guns were turned in to the security forces during the amnesty period.
Turn into (to change or become something or somebody different)
The authorities are going to turn the old cinema into a school.
Turn off (to touch a switch so that a piece of electrical equipment stops working)
He turned off the lights before closing the office.
Turn on (to touch a switch so that a machine starts to work)
I turned on the radio to listen to the news.
Turn on to (to make someone start to be interested in something or someone)
It’s Max Perera who turned me on to study English.
Turn on (if an event or situation turns on something, it depends on it to work successfully)
The next election will turn on how people think about the present government.
Turn out (to happen in a particular way)
My trip to Malaysia did not turn out as planned.
Turn over (to move so that you are facing in a different direction, especially when you are lying down)
I am not going to turn over and go to sleep.
Turn to (to ask someone for help)
I turned to him thinking that he would help me.
Turn up (to increase the amount of something, especially sound or heat produced by a machine)
She turned the oven up to 200 degrees.
Type into (to put information into a computer using a keyboard)
Your statement will be typed directly into a computer.
Type out (to produce a copy of something you have written by typing it into a computer)
I drafted a letter and typed it out.
Urge on (to encourage somebody to do something)
Urged on by my coach, I finished the race in record time.
Use up (to finish a supply of something)
Natural resources are being used up at an alarming rate.
Usher in (if an event ushers in a period of time, it causes that thing to happen)
The ethnic conflict ushered in a period of shortages and deprivation.
Veer off (to suddenly change direction)
Her life has veered off in an entirely different direction.
Veg out (to relax)
After work we veg out in front of the television.
Venture forth (to leave your house and go somewhere else)
When the rain ceases we can venture forth.
Vest in (to officially give power to a person or organisation)
The country’s political power is vested in Parliament.
Vie for (to compete for something)
Children are vying for the teacher’s attention.
Vie with (to compete with somebody or something)
Companies vie with each other to hire the best people.
Visit on (to cause damage or harm to something or someone)
Death is usually visited on civilians caught in the war.
Vote in (to decide to give someone a particular position of power)
Rex was voted in as the new party leader.
Vote on (to make a decision about something by counting the number of people for and against it)
Members of Parliament will vote on the budget proposals tomorrow.
Vote out (to decide to remove a person from a particular position)
Most of the inefficient ministers will be voted out at the next elections.
Vote through (to decide as a group to accept something)
Legal reforms were voted through with a big majority.
Vouch for (to say that you know somebody and that you can promise that they have a good character or skills)
I can vouch for his administrative skills.
Wade in (to do something in a forceful way)
When protesters started their march towards the Defence Ministry building, riot police waded in with tear gas.
Wade into (to become involved in a difficult situation)
The cricketer has waded into one controversy after another.
Wade through (to spend time and effort doing something boring or difficult)
I had to wade through many law reports to find more information.
Wait around (to stay in a place waiting for something to happen)
The remand prisoner had waited around for some time to get legal assistance.