Running errands and going shopping are parts of life that we cannot avoid. Whether you are buying groceries or looking for a new outfit, you need the right words to navigate the stores. Using phrasal verbs makes these common tasks sound much more natural. This guide will show you 15 phrasal verbs to “get it done” like a native speaker.
Quick Summary: Phrasal Verbs for Shopping and Errands
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
| Run out of | To have none left | We ran out of eggs. |
| Write down | To record on paper | Write down the list. |
| Stop by | To visit briefly | Stop by the bank. |
| Look for | To search for | I’m looking for bread. |
| Pick out | To choose | Pick out a nice gift. |
| Stock up | To buy in bulk | Stock up on soap. |
| Pay for | To give money | I’ll pay for the milk. |
| Try on | To test clothing fit | Try on that jacket. |
| Go with | To match well | That tie goes with the suit. |
| Take back | To return an item | Take back the broken toy. |
| Line up | To wait in a queue | We had to line up at the till. |
| Put away | To store in a place | Put away your clothes. |
| Pick up | To collect or buy | Pick up some fruit. |
| Sell out | To have no more stock | The shoes are sold out. |
| Wrap up | To finish tasks | Let’s wrap up the errands. |
Planning and Starting Your Errands
Before you leave the house, you usually need to organize your tasks. These phrases help you describe the beginning of your shopping trip.
1. Run out of
This happens when you use all of something and have nothing left. It is usually the reason you go shopping in the first place.
- Example: We have run out of milk, so I need to go to the store.
2. Write down
To write down means to record information on paper or your phone. This is essential for making a shopping list.
- Example: Please write down anything you need from the pharmacy.
3. Stop by
To stop by means to visit a place for a short time, usually on your way to somewhere else.
- Example: I will stop by the post office after I finish grocery shopping.
Inside the Grocery Store
The supermarket is where we use many of our daily phrasal verbs. These describe how we choose and buy our food.
4. Look for
To look for means to search for something you need.
- Example: I am looking for the organic vegetable section.
5. Pick out
To pick out means to choose one thing from a group. You might pick out the best apples or a specific brand of cereal.
- Example: It took me a long time to pick out a birthday cake for the party.
6. Stock up
To stock up means to buy a large amount of something so that you have enough for a long time.
- Example: We like to stock up on bottled water when it is on sale.
7. Pay for
This is the action of giving money to the store in exchange for your items.
- Example: I need to find my wallet so I can pay for these groceries.
Shopping for Clothes
Buying clothes involves different actions than buying food. These verbs are specific to the fashion world.
8. Try on
To try on means to put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits or looks good before you buy it.
- Example: I want to try on these jeans in a smaller size.
9. Go with
To go with means that two things look good together. You use this to talk about matching colors or styles.
- Example: Do you think this blue shirt goes with these brown trousers?
10. Take back
If you buy something and then realize it is broken or does not fit, you take it back to the store for a refund.
- Example: This sweater has a hole in it, so I must take it back tomorrow.
Finishing Your Tasks
Once you have finished your shopping, there are a few final steps to complete your errands.
11. Line up
In a busy store, you often have to line up. This means to stand in a row of people waiting for your turn to pay.
- Example: The store was very busy, and I had to line up for twenty minutes.
12. Put away
When you get home, you must put away your items. This means to place them in the cupboard, fridge, or closet where they belong.
- Example: After I get home, I spend ten minutes putting away the groceries.
13. Pick up
In our phrasal verbs guide for commuting, we use this to mean collecting a person. In a shopping context, it means buying or collecting an item.
- Example: Can you pick up some bread on your way home?
14. Sell out
When a store has sold all of a specific item and has no more left, they have sold out.
- Example: I wanted to buy the new game, but the shop had already sold out.
15. Wrap up
To wrap up means to finish your tasks. You can use this for a long day of errands.
- Example: I managed to wrap up all my shopping before the rain started.
Wrapping Up
Running errands and shopping can be stressful, but having the right vocabulary makes it much easier. When you can tell a store clerk that you are looking for a specific item or tell your family that you need to pick up some food, you are communicating like a native.
These tasks are a big part of your daily life. By combining these shopping phrases with your household chores vocabulary, you will be able to describe every part of your day. Practice these verbs next time you head out to the shops!
