Phrasal Verbs | D

Here is a list of phrasal verbs beginning with the letter D. Each phrasal verb is followed by its meaning. Example sentences are also given.

Die away / die down: diminish in intensity

• The excitement soon died away.
• The controversy about the minister’s involvement in the scam soon died down.

Die off / die out = become extinct

• Asiatic lions are in danger of dying off.

Disagree with = used to talk about foods or drinks that make a person sick.

• Alcohol disagrees with me. (= Alcohol makes me sick.)

Do away with = abolish

• Many countries have done away with the death penalty.

Do over (separable) = repeat a job

• The teacher asked the boy to do the sum over.

Do without = manage to live without something that one wants

• We can’t do without food or water.

Dress down (separable) = reprimand severely; wear casual clothes

• The teacher dressed the boy down because he was always late for school.
• She always dresses down.
• I guess you can dress down a bit. After all, we aren’t going to a business meeting.

Dress up (separable) = decorate, wear elegant clothes

• She likes to dress her baby up.
• They dressed the venue up with bright lights.

Drive at = mean

• What’s he driving at? (= What is the purpose behind what he is saying?)

Drive back (separable) = repulse; force someone to go back

• The militants were driven back by the army.

Drop behind = fail to keep up with

• If you don’t work hard you will drop behind your peers.

Drop in = visit unexpectedly

• She always drops in when you least expect it.

Drop in on somebody = visit somebody unexpectedly

• As we were driving by her house, we decided to drop in on Sophia.

Drop out = quit

• I can’t keep up with the schedule so I am thinking about dropping out.

Drop out of = quit school etc.

• As he had dropped out of school, he found it difficult to get a good job.

Drop off = become fewer or less; fall asleep

• His customers are dropping off.
• The baby kept crying until she dropped off.

Drop at (separable) = allow somebody to get out of a car, etc.

• Can you drop me at the bus station?

Drop over = visit casually

• Feel free to drop over any time.