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PHRASAL VERB WITH "UP"
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Add up | Calculate the total amount | Your purchases add up to 95. |
| Add up | Make sense; be logical | "Her explanation doesn't add up." |
| Back up | Copy a computer document as a security measure | "It is recommended to back up all files for safety purposes." |
| Back up | Support or defend | "If I tell the boss we've got too much work, will you back me up?" |
| Back up | Reverse a vehicle towards or against something | The car beeped as he backed it up against the wall. |
| Block up | Fill a passage or opening | All the windows have been blocked up in the old building. |
| Blow up | Explode | A bomb blew up outside the bank. |
| Break up | Separate; end a relationship | Carla and Alex have broken up. |
| Brighten up | Lighten | The sky is brightening up a little. |
| Brighten up | Become happier | Jimmy brightened up \ as soon as his girlfriend arrived. |
| Bring up | Raise a child | All parents want to bring up their children as best they can. |
| Build up | Develop | They've built up a thriving business over the past 20 years. |
| Burn up | Destroy entirely by heat | The whole house burned up in the fire. |
| Call up | Telephone | Let's call up the Windsors and invite them over. |
| Catch up (with) | Reach the same level or standard | She ran very fast so that he wouldn't catch up with her. |
| "After his illness he had to work hard to catch up with the other pupils." | ||
| Check up | Verify something; make sure that something is ok | "I need to check up on a few things before making a decision." |
| Chop up | Cut into small pieces | Chop up an onion and add it to the other ingredients. |
| Cheer up | Make someone happier | Emily looks sad. Let's see if we can cheer her up. |
| Clear up/Clean up | Make a place tidy or clean again | We need to clear up the place before our parents get back. |
| Close up | Lock the doors of a place | The beach restaurants all close up in winter. |
| Crack up | Laugh so hard that it hurts | That child says the funniest things he cracks me up! |
| Do up | Fasten | "You should do up your jacket. It's cold outside." |
| Draw up | Move something closer | "My father drew up a chair for the visitor." |
| Draw up | Prepare a document, list or plan | "We must make sure the plans are properly drawn up." |
| Draw up | Bring oneself into an erect position | Jack drew himself up when his name was called. |
| Dress up | Wear smarter clothes than usual | There's no need to dress up. Just come as you are. |
| Dress up | Wear a costume or disguise | "He dressed up in a skeleton for Halloween." |
| Dry up | No longer contain water | "The land dried up so it was impossible to grow any crops." |
| Eat up | Finish all your food | "You must eat up all your vegetables if you want dessert!" |
| End up | Reach a final result or destination. | "We got on the wrong train and ended up in Brighton!" |
| Fix up | Repair or decorate | They had to fix up the apartment before moving in. |
| Fix up | Arrange something | I'll fix you up with a golf partner. |
| Get up | Rise; leave bed | "What time do you usually get up in the morning?" |
| Give up | Stop doing something | You're coughing a lot. You should give up smoking! |
| Go up | Increase; rise | "The price of petrol is expected to go up." |
| Grow up | Spend your childhood | "I grew up in a small village." |
| Grow up | Become an adult | "Don't be so childish. You need to grow up!" |
| Heat up | Make hotter | "I'm going to heat up some soup." |
| Hold up | Delay or make someone wait. | "Don't hold up the group. You can ask your questions later!" |
| Hurry up | Move or act more quickly | "Hurry up. We're going to miss the bus!" |
| Keep up | Go at the same speed. | "Don't walk so fast! I can"t keep up with you." |
| Mix up | Mistake one thing or person for another. | "I don't know all their names yet. I tend to mix them up." |
| Pick up | Learn quickly. | "The children picked up the language quickly." |
| Screw up | Mishandle or do something badly. | "Sam was annoyed because he screwed up his presentation." |
| Set up | Arrange or establish. | "Let's set up camp near the river." |
| "We need to set up a meeting to discuss the problem. | ||
| Take up | Start to do something. | "Dad took up golf when he retired." |
| Wake up | Stop sleeping. | "I always wake up early, especially in the summer." |
| Warm up | Gradually increase in intensity e.g. physical activity. | "In sports it's important to warm up to avoid injuries." |