Nouns from phrasal verbs

Two kinds of noun are formed from such verbs: (1) The major pattern. In speech, the level stress of brak dwn changes to the compound stress of BREAKdown. In writing and print, nouns like this are either solid (breakdown) or hyphenated (round-up). The solid form is common when a usage is well established and is favoured in AmE. Hyphenation is common for newer usages and is favoured in BrE, in which a solid form may seem confusing or odd, especially when vowels come together: cavein as cavein, make up as makeup. Typical nouns are: blackout, breakout, breakup, buildup, getaway, get-together, hold-up, mix-up, sit-in,take-off, white-out. (2) The minor pattern. By a process of inversion: when a disease breaks out, there is anoutbreak of that disease. Again, compound stress occurs: OUTbreak. In writing and print, the presentation is usually solid. Typical nouns are: input, onrush, outflow, output, overflow, overspill, throughput, upkeep,upsurge, upta ke. The contrasting patterns sometimes prompt different forms with different meanings: abreakout usually of people, an outbreak usually of disease and trouble; a layout in design and decoration, anoutlay of money and goods; a lookout posted to observe, an outlook usually relating to weather, attitude, and prospects. Most phrasal nouns relate to situations. The few which relate to things and people tend to be dialectal, idiomatic, and slangy: BrE layabout someone who lays/lies idly about; AmE dropout someone who drops out of society or education; write-off a car so badly damaged that it is written off the books of an insurance company; blow-up a photograph blown up like a balloon. As with the verb forms, phrasal nouns can run parallel with Latinate nouns that tend to be elevated, technical, and formal where the phrasal nouns are colloquial, informal, and slangy: break-up/disintegration, checkup/examination, letdown/disappointment, letup/relaxation, sellout/betrayal, shake-up/reorganization.

Compounds and attributives Phrasal nouns can occur in compound and attributive formations: (1) With the phrasal noun first: blackout regulations, breakdown service, check-up period, getaway car, input time, overflow pipe, round-up time. (2) With the phrasal noun second: aeroplane takeoff/airplane takeoff, traffic holdup, cholera outbreak, enemy build-up, population overspill, student sit-in. (3) With the phrasal noun between other nouns: cattle round-up time, truck break-down service, population overspill problem.