A “phrasal verb” is a verb + preposition combination that carries a special meaning. Phrasal verbs are idiomatic; they cannot be translated word-for-word. For example, turn on, turn off, turn down, and turn up, are all phrasal verbs. These types of words are very common in English and are often more frequently used than their one-word synonyms. For example, you are more likely to hear “put out the fire” rather than “extinguish the fire.” In phrasal verbs, the stress is on the last word; note the bold words in the examples below.