phrasal verbs

   is a somewhat ungainly term for what is unquestionably one of the more versatile features of English- namely, the ability to extend the meaning of verbs by attaching a particle to them. Thus in English we can break up, break off, break down, break in, break out, and break into, or take to, take off, take in, take over, take up, take down, and take away, among many others. Each expression conveys a shade of meaning that would not be possible without the particle. But this capacity to grace a verb with a tail sometimes leads writers to add a word where none is needed. Thus we get head up, lose out, cut back, trigger off, pay off, and countless others. Sometimes such combinations, though strictly unnecessary, gain the force of idiom (stand up, sit down, beat up), but often they are merely a sign of careless writing. In the following examples, the italicized words do nothing but consume space: "Now the bureau proposes to sell off 280 acres" (Time magazine); "The time will be cut down to two hours within two years" (Daily Telegraph)', "A light snowfall did little to slow down the British advance" (Sunday Times).