English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 144: Phrasal verbs 8 - up (2)

bring up a topic etc. = introduce it in a conversation
  • I don't want to hear any more about this matter. Please don't bring it up again.

come up = be introduced in a conversation
  • Some interesting points came up in our discussion yesterday.

come up with an idea, a suggestion etc. = produce an idea
  • Sarah is very creative. She's always coming up with new ideas.

make something up = invent something that is not true
  • What Kevin told you about himself wasn't true. He made it all up.

cheer up = be happier, cheer somebody up = make somebody feel happier
  • You look so sad! Cheer up!
  • Helen is depressed at the moment. What can we do to cheer her up?

save up for something / to do something = save money to buy something
  • Dan is saving up for a trip round the world.

clear up = become bright (for weather)
  • It was raining when I got up, but it cleared up later.

blow up = explode, blow something up = destroy it with a bomb etc.
  • The engine caught fire and blew up.
  • The bridge was blown up during the war.

tear something up = tear it into pieces
  • 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
  • A friend of mine was attacked and beaten up a few days ago. He was badly hurt and had to go to hospital.

break up / split up (with somebody) = separate
  • I'm surprised to hear that Sue and Paul have split up. They seemed very happy together.

do up a coat, a shoelace, buttons etc. = fasten, tie etc.
  • It's quite cold. Do up your coat before you go out.

do up a building, a room etc. = repair and improve it
  • The kitchen looks great now that it has been done up.

look something up in a dictionary, encyclopaedia etc.
  • If you don't know the meaning of a word, you can look it up in a dictionary.

put up with something = tolerate it
  • 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
  • Don't wait for me. I don't want to hold you up.
  • Plans to build a new factory have been held up because of the company's financial problems.

mix up people/things, get people/things mixed up = you think one is the other
  • The two brothers look very similar. Many people mix them up. (or ... get them mixed up)

144.1 Which goes with which?

1) I'm going to tear up
2) Jane came up with
3) Paul is always making up
4) I think you should do up
5) I don't think you should bring up
6) I'm saving up for
7) We had to put up with		a) a new camera
b) a lot of bad weather
c) your jacket
d) an interesting suggestion
e) excuses
f) the letter
g) that subject
  1. 1
  2. 2 __________
  3. 3 __________
  4. 4 __________
  5. 5 __________
  6. 6 __________
  7. 7 __________

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


  1. The weather was horrible this morning, but it's now.

  2. Amy was late because she was __________ in the traffic.

  3. They bought an old house and __________ . It's really nice now.

  4. Joe was really depressed. We took him out for a meal to __________ .

144.3 Complete the sentences using a verb (in the correct form) + up. Sometimes you will need other words as well.

  1. Some interesting matters in our discussion yesterday.
  2. The ship __________ and sank. The cause of the explosion was never discovered.
  3. Two men have been arrested after a man was __________ outside a restaurant last night. The injured man was taken to hospital.
  4. 'Is Robert still going out with Tina?' 'No, they've __________ .'
  5. My hands were so cold, I found it hard to __________ my shoelaces.
  6. I wish it would stop raining! I hope it __________ soon.
  7. I wanted to phone Chris, but I dialled Laura's number by mistake. I got their phone numbers __________ .

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

  1. Don't wait for me. I don't want to .
  2. I don't know what this word means. I'll have to __________ .
  3. There's nothing we can do about the problem. We'll just have to __________ it.
  4. 'Was that story true?' 'No, I __________ .'
  5. I think we should follow Tom's suggestion. Nobody has __________ a better plan.
  6. I hate this photo. I'm going to __________ .
  7. I'm trying to spend less money at the moment. I'm __________ a trip to Australia.

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