27 English Phrasal Verbs With 'BE'

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27 phrasal verbs with 'BE'

Be after

1. Try to find or get
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: The police ARE AFTER him because of the theft.

Be along

1. Arrive
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The next bus should BE ALONG in the next quarter of an hour or so.

Be away

1. Be elsewhere; on holiday, etc.
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: She's AWAY on business for three weeks.

Be cut out for

1. Be suitable, have the necessary qualities
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: She's not CUT OUT FOR this kind of work.

Be cut up

1. Be upset
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: She was very CUT UP about coming second as she thought she deserved to win.

Be down

1. Be depressed
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: He's BEEN DOWN since his partner left him.
2. Be reduced or less
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The firm's profits ARE DOWN by ten percent this quarter.

Be down on

1. Have negative feelings toward someone
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: After the argument, James is DOWN ON his boss.

Be down with

1. Be ill
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: Gul is DOWN WITH some bug and is off work today.

Be fed up

1. Be bored, upset or sick of something
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: I AM FED UP of his complaints.

Be in

1. Be at home or at work
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: They ARE never IN; I always get their answerphone.
2. Be submitted, arrive
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The application form must BE IN by 3pm on Friday.

Be in on

1. Be involved in
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: Susan was the only one who WASN'T IN ON the plan.

Be into

1. Like
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: I AM INTO classical music.

Be not on

1. Be unacceptable
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The way he's behaving IS just NOT ON.

Be off

1. Be bad (of food)
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: This yoghurt must BE OFF; it smells foul.
2. Depart, leave
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: I'm OFF home; it's five o'clock.

Be on

1. Be functioning (of machines)
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The computer IS ON.
2. Take place
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The show IS ON for the next three months.
3. Take medication or drugs, especially when they affect the person badly
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: He IS ON anti-depressants and has become very difficult to please.
4. Be at the top of one’s game, performing very well
   (Inseparable | American English)
   
   » Example: He IS really ON right now- three goals in five minutes!

Be on about

1. Mean, try to say
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: I couldn't understand what he WAS ON ABOUT- it made no sense.

Be onto

1. Pursue, be aware of someone's true nature
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: He's being very careful because he thinks the police ARE ONTO him.

Be out

1. Be absent from a place
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: She IS OUT on a visit for the day.

Be out of

1. Have no more left
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: We're OUT OF coffee so I'll have to go and get some.

Be out to

1. Attempt
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: She IS OUT TO get him sacked because she hates him.

Be snowed under

1. Have too much work
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: We're completely SNOWED UNDER at work because it's the end of the tax year.

Be taken aback

1. Be shocked or surprised
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: I WAS TAKEN ABACK when I saw him because he's lost all his hair.

Be taken with

1. Like something
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: I WAS very TAKEN WITH the performance- it was superb.

Be to do with

1. Be connected with
   (Intransitive | International English | Contributed By: Steve)
   
   » Example: He said the meeting IS TO DO WITH a complaint.

Be up

1. Be out of bed
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: She's not UP yet.
2. Have increased or risen
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: The company's profits ARE UP by fifteen percent.
3. When the time for something finishes or expires
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: Time's UP, please finish your drinks and leave.

Be up for

1. Be enthusiastic about an upcoming event
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: ARE you UP FOR the climb of Mt. Blanc?

Be up to

1. Be good enough
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: He's not UP TO the job; get someone else.
2. Doing something naughty or wrong
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: What are those kids UP TO?

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