Phrasal verbs · by particle

up

363Verbs

Act upBehave badly or strangely

Add upMake a mathematical total

Amp upIncrease the power, excite, arouse

Back upMake a copy of computer data

Bail upTalk to someone and delay them

Ball upConfuse or make things complicated

Balls upSpoil, ruin

Bang upPut someone in prison

Bash upBreak, damage or hurt by hitting

Be upBe out of bed

Beam upTeleport, transport

Bear upResist pressure

Beat upAttack violently

Beef upMake something stronger or more solid

Belt upBe quiet

Big upExaggerate the importance

Bitch upSpoil or ruin something

Block upFill a space so that nothing can pass

Board upCover windows or doors with wood, metal, etc.

Boil upFeel a negative emotion strongly

Bolster upGive support, reinforce, strengthen

Bone upStudy hard for a reason

Boot upStart a computer

Botch upRuin or spoil something

Bottle upNot express your feelings

Box upPack things in boxes to move them

Brace upFeel more confident or optimistic about something

Break upBreak into many pieces

Brick upClose or fill a space with bricks

Brighten upImprove (weather)

Bring upMention. Raise a topic for discussion.

Brush upImprove a skill quickly

Buck upHurry (either transitive or reflexive)

Buckle upFasten a seatbelt

Budge upMove to make space for someone

Buff upClear, clean or make something shine

Build upDevelop a company

Bulk upGain weight, develop bigger muscles

Bump upIncrease

Bundle upPut on warm clothing

Buoy upMake someone feel more positive

Burn upDestroy completely by fire

Bust upEnd a relationship, usually angrily or after arguing

Butter upPraise or flatter someone excessively

Button upConclude an agreement

Buy upBuy all of something

Call upSummon someone for military service

Carve upDivide into smaller pieces

Cash upCount all the money taken in a shop or business at the end of the day

Cast upBe left on the shore by the sea

Catch upGet work, etc, up to date

Chalk upAchieve something good

Charge upPut electricity into a battery

Chase upEnsure that someone remembers to do something

Chat upTalk to someone you are sexually interested in to get them interested in you

Cheer upBe less unhappy

Chew upCut into small pieces with your teeth

Choke upBecome tearfully emotional

Choose upForm groups or teams

Chop upCut into small pieces

Chuck upVomit, be sick

Clag upMake something sticky

Clam upBe quiet, refuse to speak

Clean upTidy and clean

Clear upCure or recover from an infection

Clock upWin, score or achieve results

Clog upBlock, slow movement right down

Close upCompletely close something

Cock upRuin or spoil something

Conjure upCreate a picture or memory in someone's mind

Coop upConfine in a small area

Cost upCalculate how expensive some work is going to be

Cough upLose possession of a ball, etc. in a contact sport

Cover upConceal, try to stop people finding out

Cowboy upNot give in when things get difficult

Cozy upMake yourself comfortable

Crack upHave a nervous breakdown

Crank upInject non-medical drugs

Crop upAppear unexpectedly

Cross upConfuse, deceive

Cuddle upPosition your body very closely

Cut upCut into smaller pieces

Dial upConnect to a computer with a phone and modem

Dig upFind something that is supposed to be secret

Dish upServe food

Divvy upDivide, share

Do upClose or fasten clothes, etc.

Double upBend over at the waist

Draw upPrepare a contract

Dream upInvent something, have an idea

Dredge upDiscover things about someone's past

Dress upDress very smartly

Drink upFinish a drink

Drive upMake something increase

Drum upIncrease support or interest

Dry upLose all the water from a river, lake, source, etc

Duff upBeat or hit someone repeatedly

Ease upRelax, calm down

Eat upEat all of something

Edge upApproach slowly

End upBecome or do something unplanned

Eye upLook carefully at someone

Fasten upClose, attach

Fatten upGive an animal a lot to eat to make it fat

Feed upGive someone a lot of food to restore their health, make them bigger, etc

Feel upTouch sexually, grope

Fess upConfess, admit something reluctantly

Fetch upArrive unintentionally

Fill upFill something completely

Finish upFinally get somewhere, usually without planning to go there

Fire upStart a computer

Firm upMake things clearer in a negotiation or discussion

Fit upFrame someone- make them look guilty of something they haven't done

Fix upMake an arrangement

Flag upRaise an issue, or highlight its importance

Flame upBurn brightly

Flare upWhen trouble suddenly appears

Fluff upShake or pat a cushion so that it fills with air

Fold upMake a sheet of paper smaller

Follow upDo something to check or improve an earlier action

Free upMake money or time available by not using it elsewhere

Freeze upBe blocked with ice

Freshen upWash quickly and improve appearance

Front upAppear somewhere for a short time

Fuel upPut petrol or other fuel into a vehicle

Gang upForm a group against something or someone

Gear upGet ready for a busy period

Gee upUsed to encourage a horse, and sometimes people, to go faster

Get upGet out of bed

Gin upBoost, increase or exaggerate

Ginger upMake more lively

Give upStop doing something that has been a habit

Go upRise or climb

Goof upMess, spoil

Grass upReport someone to a person in authority

Grind upReduce to small pieces

Grow upMature, become adult

Gussy upDress smartly or improve the appearance of something

Hack upChop or cut into small pieces

Ham upPerform or act in an excessive way to attract attention or amuse people

Hang upEnd a phone call

Hash upSpoil, make a mess

Have upMake someone appear in court

Head upBe in charge

Heat upMake food hot

Hit upInject drugs

Hole upHide to avoid detection or an unpleasant situation

Hook upMeet someone

Hunt upSearch for and manage to find something

Hush upTry to keep something bad from becoming widely known

Hutch upShare accommodation with a number of people because of the high rent

Ice upBecome covered with ice in a way that stops something from working well

Jack upRaise a car to be able to do mechanical work

Jazz upMake something more interesting or attractive

Juice upMake something more exciting or perform better

Keep upNot let someone go to bed

Key upMake someone excited or nervous

Kick upCause trouble or pain

Knock upBecome or get someone pregnant

Lap upAppreciate something

Level upAcquire skills, points, etc, for a character in a computer game

Light upLight or start smoking a cigarette

Lighten upBe less serious

Limber upDo some exercises to warm up before playing a sport or other physical activity

Line upArrange in a line

Link upConnect, join

Listen upPay attention (often used as a command)

Liven upMake something more interesting or exciting

Load upTake illegal drugs

Lock upClose all doors, windows, etc.

Look upConsult a reference (search engine, dictionary, etc.) for a specific piece of information.

Loosen upBecome more relaxed or comfortable

Make upStop being angry with someone

Man upBehave with courage or conviction

Mark upIncrease the price of something

Marry upMatch, correspond

Mash upCrush something until it becomes a paste

Measure upFind the size of something

Meet upSee someone after making an arrangement

Mess upSpoil or ruin

Mock upMake a model of something to show or test it

Mop upResolve a problem

Mount upIncrease over time

Move upMove to make space

Muddle upTake things that are ordered or sequenced and mess them up

Mug upStudy quickly, revise

Nuzzle upTouch affectionately, especially with the nose or head

Open upStart to talk freely about something

Order upArrange to have something supplied or delivered

Pack upStop doing something

Pair upForm a pair

Pal upBecome friends

Pass upDecline a chance

Patch upFix or make things better

Pen upKeep people or animals in a restricted area and prevent them from leaving

Pep upMake something more interesting

Perk upFeel better or happier, make someone feel better or happier

Pile upAccumulate

Pin upFix something to a wall, or other vertical surface, with a pin

Pipe upSpeak, raise your voice

Plant upFill an area with plants or seeds

Plate upPut food onto a plate to serve

Play upBehave badly

Plough upBreak the surface of soil

Plow upBreak the surface of soil

Pluck upMuster, acquire, gather

Plump upMake something like a cushion bigger and softer by shaking it

Polish upImprove something quickly

Pony upPay for something

Pop upAppear, like windows and boxes opening on a computer screen

Power upTurn a computer or electronic device on so that it is ready to use

Price upCharge more for something

Prop upSupport something, both physically and financially, politically, etc.

Psych upPrepare someone mentally

Pucker upMove your lips into position to receive a kiss

Pull upSlow and stop a car

Pump upEncourage, make someone feel confident

Put upAllow someone to stay at your house for a night or a few days

Queer upMess up, ruin

Rack upAcquire a lot of something

Rake upBring something back to people's attention

Ramp upIncrease amount, price, speed or power of something

Ratchet upIncrease

Ride upMove higher on the body (of clothes)

Ring upTelephone

Roll upAppear in large numbers for an event

Root upDig a plant out of the ground

Rough upAssault

Round upIncrease a number to the nearest whole number or number ending in zero

Run upMove quickly to where someone is

Rustle upMake something quickly without much preparation

Saddle upPut a saddle on and prepare an animal to ride

Save upFor money for a particular purpose

Saw upCut into pieces with a saw

Scale upIncrease, make bigger

Scout upTry to find someone for a task or requirement

Scrape upManage to collect enough of something you need, usually money

Screw upDo badly or fail

Scuzz upSpiil, ruin, contaminate

Sell upSell a house or business to move somewhere or do something different

Send upImitate/impersonate for comic effect

Set upPrepare equipment, software, etc., for use

Settle upPay a debt

Sex upChange information to make it more attractive to the reader or listener

Shack upLive with someone when you are in a relationship

Shake upUpset or shock

Shape upDevelop in a positive way

Shoot upIncrease quickly

Shore upSupport something to make it stronger

Show upAttend something or arrive somewhere

Shut upStop talking or making noise

Sign upGive your name to do something

Sing upSing louder

Sit upSuddenly take notice or pay attention

Size upAssess a situation or person carefully

Skin upMake a cannabis joint

Slice upCut completely into pieces or slices

Slip upMake an error

Slow upSlow the progress of something

Smash upDestroy, break into many pieces

Snaffle upConsume, take, buy something other people may want

Snap upGet, acquire or buy something quickly

Snarl upEntangle

Snuggle upLie or press yourself closely to someone

Sober upStop showing the effects of alcohol or drugs

Soften upWeaken

Spark upLight a cigarette or joint

Speak upTalk more loudly

Speed upMove faster

Spice upAdd spices or herbs to increase flavour

Spiff upMake something smart or more presentable

Spike upIncrease sharply

Split upDivide into groups

Spring upAppear suddenly

Spruce upSmarten, make something neat and tidy

Square upPay back a debt

Squeeze upGet more people into a space than normal or comfortable

Stack upPut things in a pile

Staff upEmploy someone for something specific

Stand upMove from a sitting or lying down to a vertical position

Start upOpen a business

Stay upNot go to bed

Steal upApproach quietly or secretly

Step upIncrease

Stick upStand on end

Stiffen upBecome rigid

Stir upMake trouble for someone else

Stitch upSew something so that it is closed

Stop upStay up late

Store upMemorise or commit something to memory for later use

Straighten upStand straight

Strike upStart (conversation, relationship)

String upHang somebody

Stuff upMake a mistake, do badly, spoil

Stump upPay for something

Suck upTry to ingratiate yourself

Suit upGet dressed or put on a uniform for an activity or task

Sum upSummarise

Summon upGet the energy or courage to do something

Swallow upTake control of something much smaller, like a company or state

Take upFill or occupy time or space

Talk upMake something appear more important or significant than it really is

Tap upApproach a footballer illegally to get them to change teams

Team upWork with someone or a group to achieve something

Tear upRip into pieces

Tee upPlace a golf ball on a short plastic or wooden stick before hitting it at the start of a hole

Tense upBecome nervous, tense or unable to relax

Think upCreate or invent something, especially when lying

Tickle upImprove a document

Tidy upPut things in the correct place in a room

Tie upTie or fasten something securely

Tighten upMake something more secure or function better

Tone upMake stronger or firmer

Tool upProvide equipment

Top upRefill something that isn't empty yet

Torque upExcite, inflame

Toss upDecide something by throwing a coin and seeing which side lands face up

Total upAdd things to create a final amount

Touch upImprove the appearance of something

Toughen upMake stronger

Trade upBuy larger or more expensive items

Train upTeach someone the specific skills they will need to carry out a job or task

Trickle upWhen financial benefits given to poor people or small businesses pass on to the wealthy

Trip upMake a mistake

Trump upCharge or accuse someone falsely

Tuck upArrange the sheets, duvet or blankets to make someone, usually a child, comfortable in bed

Tune upImprove the performance of a machine or engine

Type upType a finished version

Use upFinish or consume all of something

Vacuum upConsume

Vamp upMake something more exciting, attractive, etc

Wait upNot go to bed because you are waiting

Wake upStop sleeping

Walk upGo to someone

Warm upPrepare for physical activity. Do exercises before a sport

Wash upClean everything used to prepare food and eat it

Well upFeel tears starting

Whip upMake food quickly

Wind upClose a company because it's unprofitable

Wipe upRemove a liquid from a surface using a cloth

Wire upMake electrical connections

Wise upStop being stupid

Word upGive someone information, advice

Wrap upCover in paper

Write upMake complete written version

Zip upKeep quiet

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