Creation & Destruction

Phrasal verbs for making and breaking

Introduction

The cycle of creation and destruction runs through all human activity. We "set up" businesses, "put together" projects, "tear down" old structures, and "throw away" what we no longer need.

This chapter covers phrasal verbs for creating and destroying: building things, assembling components, dismantling systems, and disposing of the unwanted.

Themes

All Phrasal Verbs in This Chapter (71)

• put together To assemble or create something
• make up To invent or create something; to constitute
• think up To create an idea or plan through thinking
• work out To develop or devise a plan; to calculate
• build up To gradually increase or develop
• knock together To make something quickly and roughly
• dream up To invent something imaginative
• whip up To make something quickly; to stir up emotions
• rustle up To prepare or find something quickly
• churn out To produce large quantities quickly
• throw together To make something hastily
• piece together To assemble from fragments; to understand gradually
• cook up To prepare food; to invent a story or plan
• map out To plan something in detail
• hammer out To work out details through discussion
• write up To write a full account of something
• lay out To arrange or display
• cobble together To assemble roughly
• mock up To create a prototype
• patch together To create something from various sources
• knock up To make something quickly (British) or make pregnant (American)
• crank out To produce quickly in large numbers
• pump out To produce in large quantities
• roll out To launch or introduce something officially
• bring out To release or publish something
• put out To publish or produce for the public
• get out To publish or produce something
• spin off To create something new from an existing thing
• branch off To separate and develop in a new direction
• break off To separate or end suddenly
• split off To separate from a larger group
• carve out To create by hard work or from existing material
• thrash out To discuss thoroughly until resolved
• hash out To discuss and settle something
• smooth out To remove problems or irregularities
• flesh out To add more detail to something
• fill out To complete a form or become fuller
• sketch out To outline or describe roughly
• mark out To define boundaries or distinguish
• stake out To claim or mark territory
• block out To plan roughly or exclude
• rough out To create a preliminary version
• fit out To equip or furnish a space
• kit out To provide with equipment or clothing
• do up To renovate or fasten
• fix up To repair or arrange
• clean up To make clean or profit significantly
• sort out To organize or resolve
• straighten out To resolve or correct
• polish off To finish quickly or defeat easily
• finish off To complete or kill
• tear down To demolish or criticize harshly
• pull down To demolish or lower
• knock down To demolish or reduce price
• take apart To disassemble or criticize severely
• pull apart To separate forcefully or analyze critically
• rip apart To tear violently or criticize harshly
• strip down To remove parts or undress
• cut out To remove by cutting or stop doing
• cut off To disconnect or interrupt
• throw out To discard or reject
• chuck out To throw away or expel
• rub out To erase or (slang) kill
• cross out To draw a line through to delete
• strike out To delete or fail
• phase out To gradually stop using
• die away To gradually become fainter
• fade out To gradually disappear
• use up To consume completely
• conjure up To create or evoke
• rig up To set up equipment temporarily