15 English Phrasal Verbs With 'SIT'

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15 phrasal verbs with 'SIT'

Sit about

1. Sit and do nothing, especially when you should be working
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: We spent the afternoon SITTING ABOUT chatting instead of doing any work.

Sit around

1. Sit idly, doing nothing
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: They just SAT AROUND while the others did all the work.

Sit back

1. Wait for something to happen without making any effort
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: We SAT BACK and waited for them to make the first mistake.
2. Relax in a chair
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: I SAT BACK and enjoyed the show.

Sit by

1. Not try to stop something
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: I can't SIT BY while they are punished wrongly.

Sit down

1. Help someone to sit
   (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
   
   » Example: The nurse SAT me DOWN in a chair.

Sit for

1. Pose for an artist or photographer
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: The Queen SAT FOR another official portrait.
2. Look after children while their parents are out
   (Inseparable | American English)
   
   » Example: She SITS FOR her neighbors when they go out.

Sit in

1. Occupy a building to protest about something
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: The students SAT IN the Library as a protest against the increase in tuition fees.

Sit in for

1. Take on someone's responsibilities while they are absent
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: Her deputy's SITTING IN FOR her while she's away.

Sit in on

1. Attend as an observer
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: She SAT IN ON the meeting and took notes but said nothing.

Sit on

1. Be on a committee
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: She's SAT ON the finance committee from the beginning.
2. To handle somebody firmly who behaves impertinently, conceitedly
   (Inseparable | American English)
   
   » Example: If his girlfriend finds out, she'll get mad and SIT ON him.
3. Hold information back or keep it secret
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: The government have been SITTING ON the report because it was so critical.

Sit out

1. Not take part
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: I had to SIT the game OUT because I was ill.

Sit over

1. Eat or drink slowly
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: WE SAT OVER dinner discussing the plans.

Sit through

1. Stay till the end of something dull
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: I was bored and wanted to leave halfway through, but we SAT THROUGH the film.

Sit up

1. Suddenly take notice or pay attention
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: They SAT UP when I told them I was closing the company.
2. Move from lying down to a sitting position
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: She SAT UP in bed when the doctor wanted to take her temperature.

Sit with

1. Reconcile different positions
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: It's hard to see how their new plan SITS WITH the promises they made.

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