WAKE UP and GET UP Definition: wake up: to stop sleeping; get up : to leave your bed after waking up E.g.1: Jean always gets up as soon as she wakes up. E.g.2: On Sundays, I often wake up at 9 o’clock. I have breakfast in bed and read a book. Then I get up at about 12 o’clock. E.g.3: Alice woke the baby up first to feed her. Then she got the other children up. These phrasal verbs can be separated. 

WARM UP Definition: to do some light exercise before playing or competing so that your muscles are not damaged. (This phrasal verb has more than one meaning) E.g.1: All the players warm up by stretching and running just before starting the game. E.g.2: I can see the substitute warming up – I think the manager is going to make a substitution. This phrasal verb cannot be separated

WASH (something) DOWN Definition: to drink something after eating, or while eating. (This phrasal verb has more than one meaning) E.g.1: My favourite meal is grilled kidneys and beans, washed down with a nice glass of Chianti. E.g.2: If you’re going to the shops, could you buy me a sandwich and a can of lemonade to wash it down? This phrasal verb can be separated.

WASH UP Definition: to clean the cups, plates and saucepans etc that you have used when cooking or eating a meal. (This phrasal verb has more than one meaning) E.g.1: If I cook the dinner will you wash up? E.g.2: When you take a dirty cup into the kitchen, wash it up – don’t leave it for me to do! This phrasal verb can be separated.

WIN OVER Definition: to persuade someone to support you or agree with you. E.g.1. Sharapova has won over the hearts of the Wimbledon crowd, but will she win the championships? E.g.2. You can’t win people over by shouting at them. This phrasal verb can be separated.

WIND (someone) UP Definition: to make someone feel annoyed. (Informal. Pronunciation: ‘wind’ rhymes with ‘find’ & ‘kind’) E.g.1: It really winds me up when I telephone a company and they play music while I wait. E.g.2: I know! Let’s wind the teacher up by getting the answer wrong every time he asks us a question! This phrasal verb can be separated. (E.g.1 and 2)

WIND (something) UP Definition: to close a business down completely. (This phrasal verb has more than one meaning) E.g.1: They had to wind the company up because it wasn’t making any money. E.g.2: The company was wound up because of the economic crisis in Asia. This phrasal verb can be separated. (E.g.1)

WIPE AWAY (or wipe off) Definition: to remove dirt or liquid from something by wiping it with a cloth or your hand. E.g.1. He gently wiped away her tears with his fingers. E.g.2. I tried to wipe away that mark on the wall, but it’s still there. This phrasal verb can be separated.

WIPE (something) DOWN Definition: to clean or dry something using a cloth. (This phrasal verb has more than one meaning) E.g.1: The work surfaces in the kitchen need to be wiped down. E.g.2: After feeding the baby he wiped the walls

WIPE OUT Definition: to destroy or remove something or someone completely. (This verb has more than one meaning) E.g.1. The huge wave wiped out houses, roads and fields. E.g.2. Whole villages were wiped out. This phrasal verb can be separated.

WORK ON Definition: to spend time and effort trying to improve something. (this phrasal verb has more than one meaning) E.g.1: The England football team need to work on their basic skills. E.g.2: She spent a long time working on the new marketing strategy. This phrasal verb cannot be separated.

WRAP UP (or wrap yourself up) Definition: to put warm clothes on. E.g.1: You should always wrap up warm before going outside in the winter. E.g.2: She was wrapped up in a large coat, a scarf and a woolen hat. E.g.3: Why don’t you wrap yourself up and get into bed – you’ll soon feel better. This phrasal verb can be separated by ‘yourself’, myself etc. (E.g. 3)

WRAP UP Definition: to cover a gift in attractive paper (This phrasal verb has more than one meaning) E.g.1: We need to buy some pretty wrapping paper so that we can wrap the presents up. E.g.2: Can you help me? I’m trying to wrap this bottle up before I give it to Jim, but I need 3 hands! This phrasal verb can be separated.

WRITE (something) DOWN Definition: to record something on paper using a pen or pencil. E.g.1: If I don’t write your phone number down, I’ll forget it. E.g.2: Being a student is easy – just write down everything the professor says, then include it in your essays! This phrasal verb can be separated.

WRITE (a debt / money) OFF Definition: to accept that you are not going to receive the money someone owes you. E.g.1: That company has serious financial problems. I don’t think they will pay us the money they owe us, so we should write it off. E.g.2: Many people think that the World Bank should write off the debts of developing countries. This phrasal verb can be separated.

WRITE (something) UP Definition: to write a complete and final version of a document, using notes that you have made. E.g.1: After the lecture, she went home and wrote up the notes she had made. E.g.2: The journalist interviewed her, wrote his notes up and gave the finished article to his editor before the end of the day. This phrasal verb can be separated.