Collocations
Collocations
Explore English words that belong together, with meanings, examples, and sentence practice. Browse by CEFR level or pattern, and add collocations to your deck for regular review.
Phrases containing up, including its inflections. Clear word filter
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Verb + noun(10)
-
pick up the phone
to lift the receiver or accept a call
set up a system
to establish a system so it is ready to use
take up space
occupy a significant amount of physical area
clean up a mess
To restore order or cleanliness after disorder has occurred
hang up the phone
to end a phone call
pick up speed
to begin moving noticeably faster; to accelerate
take up singing
to begin singing as a hobby or pursuit
take up walking
begin walking as a regular habit or hobby
draw up a plan
to prepare a detailed written plan or proposal
take up arms
begin to fight, especially by picking up weapons
Verb + adverb(44)
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blaze up
to begin burning with a bright, strong flame
cheer up
to make someone feel happier or become happier oneself
chew up
to criticize someone severely and angrily
clutter up
to fill a place with so many things that it becomes untidy
conjure up
to bring something into existence or into the mind, seemingly by magic
curl up
to bend one's body into a compact rounded position
dredge up
to bring an unpleasant event or memory back into discussion
fatten up
to make an animal or person gain weight
fetch up
to arrive or end up somewhere, often unexpectedly
hook up
to connect devices or systems so that they can work together
lift up
to raise someone or something to a higher position
lighten up
to become more cheerful or less serious
muck up
to spoil something or make a mess of it
prick up
to rise or stand upright, especially in response to a sound
prop up
to support something by placing a solid object against or beneath it
queue up
to form or join a line while waiting
scrape up
to gather money or resources with difficulty from small available amounts
shore up
to support something with solid props so it cannot collapse
shrivel up
to become dry, smaller, and wrinkled
shut up
to stop talking, often expressed rudely when directed at someone
sidle up
to seek someone's favor through sly or insincere friendliness
soak up
to absorb liquid or take something in
sprang up
appeared or developed suddenly
spruce up
to make someone or something look neater and more attractive
stack up
to arrange items one above another in a pile
stirred up
caused strong feelings or reactions to arise
suck up
to draw liquid or another substance inward by suction
swell up
to become abnormally larger or puffy
swoop up
to pick up or catch something in one quick sweeping movement
tie up
to secure something with string, rope, or a similar fastening
tot up
to add amounts together to find their total
vomit up
to bring material from the stomach out through the mouth
yield up
to surrender something under pressure or force
zip up
to close something by fastening its zipper
buck up
to become more cheerful, courageous, or determined
buoy up
to support someone's spirits and make them feel more hopeful
hush up
To keep an embarrassing or damaging matter from becoming publicly known.
soaking up
taking liquid into a material so that it becomes absorbed
swallow up
to surround or cover something completely so that it disappears from view
bound up
closely connected with something in a way that is difficult to separate
even up
bring uneven edges or amounts into alignment or equality
rise up
to begin a rebellion against people in authority
tear up
to rip something into small pieces
well up
to rise or gather until something begins to fill or overflow, especially tears in the eyes