Phrasal Verbs with In, Out, On, and Off
A practical B1 guide to common phrasal verbs with in, out, on, and off, from everyday actions like turning lights on and off to expressions like eating out and setting off.
In and Out
In often means into a place. Out often means out of a place.
Movement and access
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
get in | enter | How did the thieves get in? |
get out | leave, exit | Stay in the car. Do not get out. |
check in | register at a hotel or airport | We checked in at the airport. |
check out | leave a hotel and pay | We checked out and got a taxi. |
move in | start living in a new home | I am moving in on Friday. |
move out | stop living in a home | She moved out a few weeks ago. |
I have got a new flat. I am moving in on Friday.
She climbed out of the pool.
Other verbs + in
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
drop in | visit without arranging | I dropped in to see Chris on my way home. |
join in | take part in something | They were playing cards, so I joined in. |
plug in | connect to electricity | The fridge is not working because you have not plugged it in. |
fill in / fill out | complete a form | Please fill in the application form. |
take in | deceive somebody | The man said he was a policeman. I was completely taken in. |
Other verbs + out
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
eat out | eat at a restaurant | We decided to eat out tonight. |
drop out | stop before finishing | He dropped out of university after a year. |
get out of | avoid something you arranged | I cannot get out of it now. |
leave out | omit, not include | You can leave out the word "that". |
cross out | draw a line through | Some names had been crossed out. |
On and Off
Lights, machines, and devices
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
turn on / switch on | start a device | Please turn on the light. |
turn off / switch off | stop a device | I switched off the heating. |
put on | start (music, kettle) | Let us put some music on. |
"Is the heating on?" "No, I switched it off."
Events and plans
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
go on | happen | What is going on? (= What is happening?) |
call off | cancel | The concert was called off because of the weather. |
put off | delay | We cannot put off making a decision. |
Clothes and appearance
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
put on | wear clothes, glasses, etc. | I put my gloves on. |
take off | remove clothes, glasses, etc. | I took off my coat. |
try on | test clothes for size | I tried on a jacket in the shop. |
put on weight | become heavier | I have put on two kilos. |
Travel and departure
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
set off | start a journey | We set off early to avoid traffic. |
take off | leave the ground (planes) | The plane took off at noon. |
see off | go with someone to say goodbye | We went to the station to see her off. |
be off | going to a place | I am off to Paris tomorrow. |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Better | Why |
|---|---|---|
She eats out a lot of food. | She eats out a lot. | Eat out means eat at a restaurant. |
I turned off it. | I turned it off. | A pronoun object goes between the verb and the particle. |
He checked out of the hotel and went away. | He checked out and got a taxi. | Check out already implies leaving the hotel. |
The meeting was put off to next week. | The meeting has been put off until next week. | Use put off with until for delays. |
Practice: Exercises
Lisa doesn't like cooking, so she ___ a lot.
Summary
In / Out: Use in for entering and out for leaving. Common verbs include get in/out, check in/out, move in/out, eat out, drop out, fill in, and join in.
On / Off: Use on for starting devices and events, and off for stopping or removing. Common verbs include turn on/off, put on (clothes, music), take off (clothes, planes), call off, put off, set off, and try on.
Remember: with a pronoun object, put it between the verb and the particle.