Phrasal verbs D

Phrasal verbs beginning with D

Deal with: Do you think you can deal with this sort of problem?

Decide on: We have decided on holiday in Spain.

Delve into: I don't want to delve into details concerning his death. It's too painful.

Depend on: you can always depend on me. The tram is late again! You really can't depend on public transport.

Depend on: Our decision depends on the results of the test.

Deprive of: Living in the country will deprive you of all the nightlife you like so much.

Devote to: She devoted all her life to fighting for human rights.

Die away: her voice gradually died away and there was silence again.

Die out: Dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago.

Dig out: I spent hours in the library but finally I dug out everything I needed.

Do away with something: why don't they do away with all these stupid rules!

Do: Could you help me do up my dress?

Do without: I'm afraid she'll have to do without my help.

Drag away: Drag him away from the TV somehow! He needs more exercise.

Drop by / in: do not hesitate to drop in whenever you're in the neighbourhood.

Drop off: I'm going to the city centre now, so if you want I can drop you off to the library.

Drop: Sue decided to drop out of school.

Dwell: John! Please stop moaning and dwelling on your past mistakes! The show must go on!

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• deal with
  • Handle, take care of, address (problem, situation). 
    "The manager is good at dealing with difficult customers."
    
• deck out (in/with)
  • Dress; decorate.
    "The women were all decked out in beautiful dresses."
    "The exhibition hall will be decked out in the colours of Europe."
    
• die down
  • Calm down, become less strong. 
    "When the applause died down, she started to sing."
    
• dig into
  • Plunge your hands deep inside something, especially to look for something. 
    "He dug into his pocket and found the key."
    
  • Press hard into something.
    "The strap of her bag dug painfully into her shoulder."
    
  • Start to do something.
    "It was time to dig into the work that had accumulated on her desk."
    
  • Take from something.
    "Dad had to dig into his savings to repair the roof."
    
• dig up
  • Break up the soil/remove by digging.
    "Tom tried to dig up the tree by its roots."
    
  • Discover or reveal information. 
    "Some newspapers often try to dig up scandalous information."
    
• dish out
  • Distribute or give away a lot. 
    "He spent the day dishing out invitations to tourists."
    
• dispense with
  • Decide to do without something.  
    "They've dispensed with the paper version so you'll have to download it."
    
• do away with
  • Get rid of;  abolish. 
    "Some people think it's time to do away with the monarchy."
    
• do over
  • Clean or redecorate. 
    "My parents will need to do over their living-room soon. The paintwork needs refreshing."
    
• do up
  • Fasten (a garment). 
    "Good boy Charlie! You know how to do up your coat now!" 
    
• do without
  • Manage without. 
    "The shops are closed so I'm afraid we'll have to do without sugar."
    




• drag on
  • Last longer than expected.
    "We expected a short speech but it dragged on and on!"
    
• drag out
  • Make something longer than necessary.
    "Let's decide quickly and not drag out this discussion."
    
  • Make someone reveal information that they are unwilling to give.
    "The police finally dragged out a confession from the suspect. "
    
• draw up
  • Write (contract, agreement, document). 
    "An agreement was drawn up and signed by the two parties."
    
• dress up
  • Wear elegant clothes. 
    "Do people dress up to go to the opera in your country?"
    
  • Disguise oneself. 
    "You know how children love to dress up at Halloween. It's part of the fun!"
    
• drift apart
  • Become less and less close. 
    "We were childhood friends but we drifted apart over the years."
    
• drift off
  • Gradually fall asleep. 
    "Once he was on the train he sat back, closed his eyes and drifted off."
    
• drive at
  • Insinuate;  be trying to say.  
    "I'm not sure I understand. What exactly are you driving at?"
    
• drop behind
  • Fall into a position behind others. 
    "Our sales have dropped behind those of our competitors."
    
• drop by/in
  • Pay a brief visit, usually on the way somewhere.
    "I don't see her often but she promised to drop by one day for a cup of coffee."
    "Jimmy sometimes drops in to see his grandparents on his way home from school."
    
• drop off
  • Deliver someone or something.
    "I'll drop you off at the bus stop if you like. I'm going that way."
    
  • Fall asleep. 
    "Granddad often drops off in front of the television."
    
• drop out
  • Stop going to classes before finishing a course of study or the school year.
    "Emily decided to go to art school, then dropped out after the first term."
    
• drown out
  • Be louder in order to cover another sound.  
    "They turned up the music to drown out the noise of the children outside."