While phrasal verbs (PVs) represent “a problematic feature of English vocabulary” (Garnier & Schmitt, 2016, p. 29) for a large number of learners, research into L2 English PVs remains insufficient. This study examines 150 tertiary-level L2 English learners’ knowledge of figurative meaning senses of PVs and the influence of congruence in the figurative meaning senses between L1 and L2 on their knowledge of the meaning senses. The research instruments consisted of a form-recall and a meaning-recall task, questionnaires, and focus group interviews. The results indicate that the learners’ PV knowledge differed significantly according to proficiency level and task type – production and reception. Further, L1 congruence influenced the learners’ knowledge of PVs differently depending on proficiency levels.