| A |
go up / come up / walk up (to ... ) = approach
- A man came up to me in the street and asked me for money.
catch up (with somebody), catch somebody up = move faster than somebody in front of you so that you reach them
- I'm not ready to go yet. You go on and I'll catch up with you / I'll catch you up.
keep up (with somebody) = continue at the same speed or level
- You're walking too fast. I can't keep up (with you).
- You're doing well. Keep it up!
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| B |
set up an organisation, a company, a business, a system, a website etc. = start it
- The government has set up a committee to investigate the problem.
take up a hobby, a sport, an activity etc. = start doing it
- Laura took up photography a few years ago. She takes really good pictures.
fix up a meeting etc. = arrange it
- We've fixed up a meeting for next Monday.
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| C |
grow up = become an adult
- Ann was born in Hong Kong but grew up in Australia.
bring up a child = raise, look after a child
- Her parents died when she was a child and she was brought up by her grandparents.
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| D |
clean up / clear up / tidy up something = make it clean, tidy etc.
- Look at this mess! Who's going to tidy up? (or tidy it up)
wash up = wash the plates, dishes etc. after a meal
- I hate washing up. (or I hate doing the washing-up.)
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| E |
end up somewhere, end up doing something etc.
- There was a fight in the street and three men ended up in hospital. (= that's what happened to these men in the end)
- I couldn't find a hotel and ended up sleeping on a bench at the station. (= that's what happened to me in the end)
give up = stop trying, give something up = stop doing it
- Don't give up. Keep trying!
- Sue got bored with her job and decided to give it up. (= stop doing it)
make up something, be made up of something
- Children under 16 make up half the population of the city. (= half the population are children under 16)
- Air is made up mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. (= Air consists of ... )
take up space or time = use space or time
- Most of the space in the room was taken up by a large table.
turn up / show up = arrive, appear
- We arranged to meet David last night, but he didn't turn up.
use something up = use all of it so that nothing is left
- I'm going to make some soup. We have a lot of vegetables and I want to use them up.
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