Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Free Time
These verbs describe evenings, weekends, and the slow start of a day off: lying in, turning in, and getting on with a hobby.
Not sure when the object goes in the middle? Read separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
carry on
continue
We decided to carry on playing cards after dinner.
We decided to continue playing cards after dinner.
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take in
understand and remember information
It’s hard to take in all this information at once.
It’s hard to absorb all this information at once.
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nod off
fall asleep briefly
He nodded off during the film.
He fell asleep briefly during the film.
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turn in
go to bed
I usually turn in around 10 p.m. every night.
I usually go to bed around 10 p.m. every night.
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get up
get out of bed
I find it hard to get up early in the morning.
I find it hard to get out of bed early in the morning.
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lie in
stay in bed late
On weekends, I like to lie in until 9 a.m. or later.
On weekends, I like to stay in bed late until 9 a.m. or later.
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hand in
submit work or a form
Don’t forget to hand in your entry form for the photography contest tomorrow.
Don’t forget to submit your entry form for the photography contest tomorrow.
Hand your essay in or hand it in. Never hand in it.
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crack on (with)
work with energy
Let’s crack on with the project.
Let’s work energetically on the project.
Informal British English. Crack on with the work; crack on with it. Crack on can also stand alone.
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be off
go
I’m off to the gym; see you later!
I’m going to the gym; see you later!
Common in speech for leaving: right, I am off.
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get on (with)
continue
She’s trying to get on with her knitting despite all the distractions.
She’s trying to continue her knitting despite all the distractions.
With takes the person or task: get on with classmates; get on with your work. Get on can stand alone in a suitable context.
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All 10 free time phrasal verbs at a glance
Separable means the object can sit in the middle, and a pronoun has to. Inseparable means it never can. No object means the verb does not take one. Full explanation here.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| carry on | continue | No object |
| take in | understand and remember information | Separable |
| nod off | fall asleep briefly | No object, informal |
| turn in | go to bed | No object, informal |
| get up | get out of bed | No object |
| lie in | stay in bed late | No object, informal |
| hand in | submit work or a form | Separable |
| crack on (with) | work with energy | Pattern varies |
| be off | go | No object, informal |
| get on (with) | continue | Pattern varies |
About this set
Use them when you talk about rest, plans, and the small routines around free time, not only “fun activities.”
A couple of items are British (lie in, be off, crack on), so they match how people actually plan a weekend in the UK.
Usage notes
- lie in. British English for staying in bed later than usual. American speakers more often say sleep in.
- turn in. Informal for go to bed. It is intransitive here: I turned in at eleven.
- crack on (with). Informal British English for continue with energy. Crack on with the ironing, not crack the ironing on.
- get on (with). Here it means continue doing something. In the Relationships set, get on with a person means have a good relationship.
Mistakes to avoid
Incorrect: I turned in the bed at eleven.
Correct: I turned in at eleven.
Turn in meaning go to bed takes no object.
Incorrect: He was so tired he nodded himself off.
Correct: He was so tired he nodded off.
Nod off takes no object, so there is nothing to place.
Incorrect: Let us crack on the report.
Correct: Let us crack on with the report.
Crack on with needs the with before the task.
Incorrect: How are you getting on with?
Correct: How are you getting on?
Get on alone asks about progress. Get on with needs something after it.
Common questions
Is lie in the same as get up?
They are opposites in this set. Get up means leave bed. Lie in means stay in bed later than usual, often on a day off.
What does be off mean for a free day?
Here be off means leave or be on your way: I am off to the gym. Be off can also mean not be at work on a particular day, but that is a different use. Set off focuses on starting a journey.