ENGLISH GRAMMAR
COMPOUND VERBS
Verbs formed from two words combined as one, or hyphenated words.
Compound verbs can be formed from two words combined as one (e.g sidestep)
or words connected by a hyphen ((e.g. double-click).
Compound verbs also include phrasal verbs.
Compound verbs also include phrasal verbs.
| Compound Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| BABYSIT | Look after children when their parents are absent. | "It's not always easy for parents to find a reliable person to babysit for them." |
| BACKSLIDE | Revert to bad habits; regress | "People who stop smoking often backslide within a year." |
| BACKSTAB | Discredit someone when they are absent | “I like my job but I hate all the backstabbing that goes on in the office!” |
| BLACKMAIL | Threaten to reveal information about someone unless they do as you say or pay you money. | “Someone tried to blackmail the politician with pictures of him in a nightclub.” |
| BRAINWASH | Make someone believe something through systematic repetition. | "Their leader brainwashed the group into believing his theories." |
| DAYDREAM | Think about pleasant things instead of doing something more serious. | "Stop daydreaming Charlie and finish your homework!" |
| DOUBLE-CLICK | Press twice on a button. | "You just need to double-click on the mouse to start the program." |
| DOUBLE-CROSS | Betray, deceive or cheat on someone. | "He double-crossed the others and disappeared with the money." |
| DRY-CLEAN | Clean clothes with chemicals, not water | "The label on the jacket says: dry-clean only." |
| HOUSE-HUNT | Search for a house (or an apartment). | "We rented an apartment and then started house-hunting." |
| JUMP-START | Help something to improve quickly. Use jumper cables to start an engine. |
"The interview jump-started her career." "I had to jump-start my car again. I need to replace the battery." |
| PROOFREAD | Find and correct mistakes in a document. | "The article needs to be proofread before it is published." |
| SIDESTEP | Move to the side to avoid something. Avoid an issue or question. |
"She had to sidestep the rubbish to get to her car." "The actor skillfully sidestepped questions about his past." |
| SPRING-CLEAN | Clean a place thoroughly, e.g. your home, traditionally in spring. | "I’m trying to get my husband to spring-clean the garage!" |
| TWO-TIME | Deceive your spouse/ partner by having a relationship with another person. | "Alice accused Tom of two-timing her and asked for a divorce." |
| WATERPROOF | Treat something so that it does not allow water in. | "My Dad always waterproofs new shoes before wearing them." |
See also:
Phrasal verbs
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