More up: bring up, come up, come up with and make up in conversation; cheer up, save up and clear up; blow up, tear up and beat up; and split up, do up, look up, put up with, hold up and mix up.
A In conversation and thinking
| Phrasal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| bring up a topic | introduce it in conversation |
| come up | be introduced in conversation |
| come up with an idea | produce it |
| make something up | invent something untrue |
- Let's not talk about money tonight. Please don't bring it up at dinner.
- A few interesting points came up at the meeting.
- Raj is brilliant at puzzles. He always comes up with the answer first.
- None of that story about his famous uncle is true. He made the whole thing up.
B cheer up, save up, clear up
cheer up = become happier; cheer somebody up = make them happier. save up for something = save money to buy it. clear up = become bright (weather).
- You look so glum! Cheer up!
- Leo failed his driving test. Let's take him out to cheer him up.
- Mia is saving up for a new laptop.
- It was foggy first thing, but by lunchtime it had cleared up.
C blow up, tear up, beat up
blow up = explode; blow something up = destroy it with explosives. tear something up = tear it to pieces. beat somebody up = hit them repeatedly and hurt them badly.
- The gas cylinder overheated and blew up.
- The old factory chimney was blown up to make way for houses.
- I didn't read the letter. I tore it up and threw it in the bin.
- A friend of mine was set upon and beaten up. He ended up in hospital.
D Other verbs + up
| Phrasal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| break up, split up (with somebody) | separate |
| do up a coat, a lace, buttons | fasten, tie |
| do up a building, a room | repair and improve it |
| look something up | find it in a dictionary or online |
| put up with something | tolerate it |
| hold up a person, a plan | delay |
| mix up, get mixed up | think one is the other |
- Have you heard? Jess and Tom have split up. I thought they'd last for ever.
- It's bitter out. Do your coat up before you go.
- The kitchen looks fantastic now it's been done up.
- If you're not sure of a date, you can look it up online.
- Our flat is above a nightclub. Every weekend we put up with music till three.
- You go ahead. I don't want to hold everyone up.
- The new factory has been held up by money problems.
- The two brothers look very alike. People often mix them up.
Exercises
144.1 Match each beginning with an ending.
He was furious and tore up ...f
He was furious and tore up the letter.
Jane came up with ...
Jane came up with a good suggestion.
Paul is always making up ...
Paul is always making up excuses.
I think you should do up ...
I think you should do up your jacket.
It would be wise not to bring up ...
It would be wise not to bring up politics at the wedding.
I'm saving up for ...
I'm saving up for a motorbike.
We had to put up with ...
We had to put up with a leaking roof all winter.
144.2 Read the scenes and complete the sentences with two or three words.
Morning: thick fog. Afternoon: blue sky.
There was thick fog first thing, but by the afternoon it had cleared up.
There was thick fog first thing, but by the afternoon it had cleared up.
Lisa arrives late, saying sorry; behind her, a long queue of traffic.
Lisa was late because she was in the traffic.
Lisa was late because she was held up in the traffic.
A shabby old terraced house; months later the same house, freshly painted and renovated.
They bought an old house and . It's really lovely now.
They bought an old house and did it up. It's really lovely now.
Joe looks miserable; friends invite him out for a curry.
Joe was really down. We took him out for a meal to .
Joe was really down. We took him out for a meal to cheer him up.
144.3 Complete the sentences with a verb + up and any other words you need.
A few interesting points came up at the meeting yesterday.
A few interesting points came up at the meeting yesterday.
The ship and sank. Nobody ever found out what caused the explosion.
The ship blew up and sank. Nobody ever found out what caused the explosion.
A shopkeeper was by two masked robbers last night.
A shopkeeper was beaten up by two masked robbers last night.
Jess and Tom aren't a couple any more. They've .
Jess and Tom aren't a couple any more. They've split up.
My hands were so cold I could hardly my laces.
My hands were so cold I could hardly do up my laces.
It's drizzled since breakfast. Hopefully it by the afternoon.
It's drizzled since breakfast. Hopefully it clears up by the afternoon.
I turned up to the party on the wrong night. I got the dates .
I turned up to the party on the wrong night. I got the dates mixed up.
144.4 Complete the sentences with a verb + up and any other words you need.
You go ahead. I don't want to hold everyone up.
You go ahead. I don't want to hold everyone up.
I'm not sure when the castle was built. I'll online.
I'm not sure when the castle was built. I'll look it up online.
The neighbours play loud music every night. Why should we it?
The neighbours play loud music every night. Why should we put up with it?
I don't believe a word of this story. I think you're .
I don't believe a word of this story. I think you're making it up.
Nobody knew how to raise the money, but in the end Ella a brilliant plan.
Nobody knew how to raise the money, but in the end Ella came up with a brilliant plan.
Before you chuck these bank statements away, you should .
Before you chuck these bank statements away, you should tear them up.
I'm trying not to spend much at the moment. I'm a holiday.
I'm trying not to spend much at the moment. I'm saving up for a holiday.
Grandad gets upset about the war, so try not to .
Grandad gets upset about the war, so try not to bring it up.
The twins look identical, so teachers often .
The twins look identical, so teachers often mix them up.