English Phrasal Verbs

Alphabetical list M-N of commonly-used phrasal verbs.

Phrasal Verbs beginning with the letter 'M' or 'N'

make do with
- Use something less satisfactory as an alternative.
  "There were no chairs to sit on so we had to make do with a pile of boxes."
make for
- Move in the direction of; head for.
  "Let's make for the exit before the crowd starts to leave."
make fun of
- Laugh at ; make jokes about.
  "The old lady dresses so strangely that the children make fun of her."
make (something) into
- Convert or change into.
  "We're going to make our garage into a playroom."
make of
- Have an opinion about something.
  "What do you make of his latest suggestion?"
make off with
- Steal and hurry away.
  "A young man made off with my briefcase while I was checking the timetable."
make out
- Be able to hear or read something.
  "I need glasses! I can't make out what's written on the board."
- Fill in the details (e.g. cheque).
  "Please make out the cheque to ABC Wizards."
make oneself out (to be)
- Claim to be/pretend to be.
  "In an attempt to find more details, he made himself out to be a journalist ."
make over
- Legally make someone the owner of something.
  Before she died she made over all her property to her children.
make up
- Invent (excuse, story).
  "Some employees make up excuses when they arrive late for work."
- Prepare a bed for use.
  "You can stay here tonight. I'll make up a bed for you in the spare room."
- Form, constitute.
  "In your opinion what qualities make up his character?
- Put on powder, lipstick, etc.
  "Cynthia spends ages making herself up/putting on make-up
make up (with)
- End a quarrel and become friends again.
  "Come on you two! It's time to shake hands and make up."
make up for
- Compensate for.
  "If I work longer the next few days I can make up for the time I was absent."
mark down
- Reduce the price.
  "The coat was marked down by 40% - a real bargain!"
miss out on
- Lose an opportunity to do something.
  "What a shame. If you leave before Saturday you'll miss out on the party."
mix up
- Mistake one thing or person for another.
  "I don't know the members' names yet. I tend to mix them up."

move along
- Advance forward (often said as a command).
  “Move along” said the policeman to the bystanders."
move in
- Arrive in a new home or office.
  "You've bought a new house? When are you moving in?"
move out
- Leave your home/office for another one.
  "My neighbour is leaving. He's moving out next Saturday."
muddle along
- Act in a confused way, with no plan or a clear purpose
  "His brother never found a steady job and just muddled along."
nail down
- Make someone say something precisely.
  "Alex promised to come for a week-end but we'll have to nail him down to a date."
name after
- Give the same name as another person.
  "My husband wanted William to be named after his grandfather."
narrow down
- Reduce a list or a number of options.
  "The list of suspects has been narrowed down to three people."
nod off
- Fall asleep.
  "My grandfather very often nods off in front of the television."
nose about/around
- Try to discover by searching.
  "The boss hates people nosing around his desk."
note down
- Write something down.
  "I'll call the station and note down the departure times."

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