| pan out | be successful, turn out well | The trip to Vegas didn’t pan out. |
| pass away | die | After battling cancer for several years, he finally passed away at the age of 87. |
| pass * off + | try to convince someone that something is real | He tried to pass the fake watch off as a real Rolex. |
| pass * on + | transmit | Please pass this message on to your co-workers. |
| pass on + | not accept (an invitation to eat or do something) | Jennifer passed on the invitation to join us for dinner. |
| pass on | die | I am afraid Professor Johnson has passed on. |
| pass * out + | distribute | We need to pass out these flyers for the concert tomorrow. |
| pass out | become unconscious | He passed out because the room was too hot. |
| pass * up + | not take advantage (of an opportunity) | I can’t believe she passed up the opportunity to study in Rome. |
| pay * back + | repay | If I loan you money, will you pay me back. |
| pay * off + | complete payment on a debt | It took me ten years to pay off my credit card debt. |
| pay * off + | to bribe | Don’t try to pay the police officer off if you get pulled over for speeding. |
| pick on + | to tease, bully | She keeps picking on me! Make her stop. |
| pick * out + | choose | Diane picked out a lovely dress for the dance. |
| pick * up + | to lift an object with the hands | Keep your back straight when you lift the TV up. |
| pick * up + | come and get someone in a car | What time are you going to pick me up. |
| pick * up + | learn something without effort | It’s possible to pick up enough English in two weeks to get by on your trip to Los Angeles. |
| pick * up + | try to initiate a relationship with someone (often in a bar) | Some weird guy tried to pick Patricia up at the bar. |
| pick up | grow, increase (inf.) | Business is really picking up this quarter. |
| play * down + | make less important (inf.) | The President played down his affair with the intern. |
| play * up | highlight something (inf.) | She played up her part in the new movie, but it was actually a very small role. |
| play up to + | flatter someone for your personal advantage | She has been playing up to the boss because she wants a promotion. |
| point * out + | indicate | I’d like to point out that figures in column two might be outdated. |
| pull down | earn | He pulls down about $300,000 a year. |
| pull in | park (a vehicle) | Mark pulled in too quickly and crashed into the wall. |
| pull out | depart (a vehicle) | Our train pulls out at 8:00, so don’t be late. |
| pull through | barely survive | I didn’t think she was going to make it, but she pulled through in the end. |
| put * across + | communicate (an idea or suggestion) clearly so that it is understood | I thought Ms. Smith put her ideas across rather clearly in the meeting. |
| put * away + | return to the proper place of storage | I told you kids to put your toys away. |
| put * down + | insult, say bad things about | She always puts down people who don’t share her opinions. |
| put in + | officially submit a request (in the armed forces or public services) | He put in for a transfer to the division in Los Angeles. |
| put * off + | postpone | Don’t put off your work – do it now! |
| put * on + | wear | Make sure you put on a sweater before you go outside. |
| put * on + | deceive | I didn’t believe a thing he said. I think he was putting me on. |
| put * out + | extinguish (a fire) | Don’t use water to put out a grease fire. |
| put * out + | inconvenience someone | I don’t want to put you out, but could you pick me up at the airport. |
| put out + | spend (usually used with unreasonably large sums of money) | I can’t put out that much money each month. |
| put * up | have a guest stay in your house for a short time | Can you put me up while I’m in town. |
| put up with + | tolerate | Sandy will not put up with smoking in her house. |
