7) Getting involved in an activity: away, in, into, out
We think of activities as if they have physical dimensions, like areas or spaces. In phrasal verbs, in and into express the idea of getting involved, while away and out express the idea of avoiding or ending an involvement. Examples:
We joined in the fun.
You're always trying to muscle in.
I flung myself into my work.
They shied away from commitment.
You can't walk away from the relationship.
The British forces pulled out.
8) Problems: around, aside, off, over, round
We think of problems and difficulties as if they are physical objects that get in our way. Some phrasal verbs have meanings to do with ignoring problems or behaving as if they do not exist. The metaphorical idea is that we go around or over the things that are in our way, or we push them farther away. Examples:
They skirted around/round the issue.
We'll work round the problem somehow.
We need to put aside our differences.
He couldn't shake off the allegations.
They glossed over the question of who was going to pay for it.
9) Power and weakness: down, over, under, up
When one person has power and controls another, we think of the first person as being in a higher position than the second. Some phrasal verbs with over and up express ideas of someone being in control, or becoming more powerful than someone else.
Phrasal verbs with down and under express ideas of someone being forced into a weaker position, or of being controlled or restricted. Examples:
He was lording it over me.
They have come up in the world.
She's been moved up to a more responsible job.
The police clamped down on drinking in the streets.
Prisoners are kept under constant surveillance.
10) Relationships: apart, off, together, up
Relationships are like physical connections. Some phrasal verbs with together refer to a close relationship between two people or groups, while ones with apart refer to the ending of a relationship. Examples:
We got together in our first year at college.
They drifted apart over the years.
Phrasal verbs with up refer to people forming a new relationship, or to a person joining a group. Example:
Two students from each class pair up to produce a short play.
However, some combinations with up and a verb meaning 'break' refer to the ending of a relationship. Examples:
He's just broken up with his girlfriend.
Her parents split up a few months ago.
A few phrasal verbs with off refer to a new relationship between two people. The metaphorical idea is that the two people come together and become separate from a larger group. Examples:
All our friends seemed to be pairing off.
They tried to marry their daughter off to a wealthy businessman.
11) Communication: across, between, forth, in, into, out, over, through
We think of communication between two people as a connection between them, with information passing from one to the other, often across a large space. Examples:
I don't know how to put it across.
I don't seem to be able to get through to them.
The message came over clearly.
Something passed between them.
When one person says something, their words seem to leave them physically. When they are told something, the message or information seems to enter them. Examples:
She poured out her problems.
Dave was holding forth on the subject of politics.
She had to repeat her words several times before they finally sank in.
My parents drummed its importance into us.
12) Information and knowledge: into, out, up
We think of things that are not yet known, or that other people may not want us to know, as if they are in a container, or covered or buried. Phrasal verbs with into describe the process of trying to find information from someone or something. Examples:
I wrote a letter of complaint, and the airline has promised to look into the matter.
You don't want them nosing into your finances.
Some phrasal verbs with out and up express ideas of revealing secrets or finding information, as if they are uncovered or brought to the surface. Examples:
She tried not to tell them, but in the end she let it out.
We dug up some interesting facts.
They raked up some scandal from his university days.
That's all folks!
Source: MED Magazine
Further reading
Metaphors We Live By, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson (Chicago University Press, 1980)
Macmillan Phrasal Verbs Plus, published by Macmillan Publishers Limited. Text © Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2005.
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