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Unit 144 · Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs 8 up (2)

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A

bring up a topic etc. = introduce it in a conversation

›

I don't want to hear any more about this. Please don't bring it up again.

come up = be introduced in a conversation

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Some interesting things came up in our discussion yesterday.

come up with an idea, a suggestion etc. = produce an idea

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Sarah is very creative. She's always coming up with new ideas.

make something up = invent something that is not true

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What Kevin told you about himself wasn't true. He made it all up.

B

cheer up = be happier, cheer somebody up = make somebody feel happier

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You look so sad! Cheer up!

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Helen is depressed. What can we do to cheer her up?

save up for something / to do something = save money to buy something

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Dan is saving up for a trip to New Zealand.

clear up = become bright (for weather)

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It was raining when I got up, but it cleared up later.

C

blow up = explode, blow something up = destroy it with a bomb etc.

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The engine caught fire and blew up.

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The bridge was blown up during the war.

tear something up = tear it into pieces

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I didn't read the letter. I just tore it up and threw it away.

beat somebody up = hit someone repeatedly so that they are badly hurt

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A friend of mine was attacked and beaten up. He had to go to hospital.

D

break up, split up (with somebody) = separate

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I'm surprised to hear that Kate and Paul have split up. They seemed very happy together.

do up a coat, a shoelace, buttons etc. = fasten, tie etc.

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It's quite cold. Do up your coat before you go out.

do up a building, a room etc. = repair and improve it

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The kitchen looks great now that it has been done up.

look something up in a dictionary/encyclopaedia etc.

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If you don't know the meaning of a word, you can look it up (in a dictionary).

put up with something = tolerate a difficult situation or person

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We live on a busy road, so we have to put up with a lot of noise from the traffic.

hold up a person, a plan etc. = delay

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Don't wait for me. I don't want to hold you up.

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Plans to build a new factory have been held up because of financial problems.

mix up people/things, get people/things mixed up = you think one is the other

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The two brothers look very similar. People often mix them up.

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or … People often get them mixed up.

→ Phrasal verbs 1 (Introduction) ➜ Unit 137 More verbs + up ➜ Units 142–143 American English ➜ Appendix 7

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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144.1

Which goes with which?

  1. 1He was angry and tore up
  2. 2Jane came up with
  3. 3Paul is always making up
  4. 4I think you should do up
  5. 5I don't think you should bring up
  6. 6I'm saving up for
  7. 7We had to put up with
  1. aa motorbike
  2. ba lot of bad weather
  3. cyour jacket
  4. da good suggestion
  5. eexcuses
  6. fthe letter
  7. gthat subject
144.2

Look at the pictures and complete the sentences. You will need two or three words each time.

  1. 1
    The weather was horrible this morning, but it's now.example
  2. 2
    Lisa was late because she was in the traffic.
  3. 3
    They bought an old house and . It's really nice now.
  4. 4
    Joe was really depressed. We took him out for a meal to .
144.3

Complete the sentences using a verb + up. Sometimes you will need other words as well.

  1. 1
    Some interesting things in our discussion yesterday.example
  2. 2
    The ship and sank. The cause of the explosion was never discovered.
  3. 3
    James was attacked and by three men he'd never seen before.
  4. 4
    Robert and Tina aren't together any more. They've .
  5. 5
    My hands were so cold, I found it hard to my shoelaces.
  6. 6
    It's been raining all morning. Let's hope it this afternoon.
  7. 7
    I turned up for the party on the wrong day. I got the dates .
144.4

Complete the sentences using a verb + up. You will need other words as well.

  1. 1
    Don't wait for me. I don't want to .example
  2. 2
    I don't know what this word means. I'll have to .
  3. 3
    I'm fed up with the way my boss treats me. I don't see why I should it.
  4. 4
    I don't believe the story you're telling me. I think you're .
  5. 5
    The problem was complicated, but we managed to a solution.
  6. 6
    Before you throw these documents away, you should .
  7. 7
    I'm trying to spend less money at the moment. I'm a holiday.
  8. 8
    Tina doesn't like talking about the accident, so it's better not to .
  9. 9
    The words 'there' and 'their' sound the same, so it's easy to .