Phrasal verbs followed by up (2)

1. [Match]

Can you select the correct phrasal verbs for the gaps?

(run up – allow a bill, score, debt, costs etc to accumulate 2) make quickly
eg By buying the flat when they did they ran up dreadful debts.
link up – form a connection, especially in order to work or operate together
We’ve linked up with various businesses to discuss forming a new joint project.
hang up – end a telephone conversation by cutting the connection; put the ‘phone down
She sounded upset – then all of a sudden, she just hung up.
hold up – delay
eg She’s running late – the traffic’s held her up.
cheer up – 1) become happier 2) give comfort or support to
She was disappointed not to get the job – but she cheered up when she realised they were offering her one just as good, if not better!
sell up – sell your house or company in order to go somewhere else or do something else
eg Julie and Ricky have sold up and moved to Devon.
slip up – make a mistake
These accounts don’t make sense – I think I’ve slipped up somewhere.
tot up – add up numbers or amounts
They intended to keep the numbers for their wedding small – but when they totted up they realised they’d invited over a hundred, even so!
take up – start doing a particular job or activity
eg Graham’s taken up the post of area supervisor.
dig up (BREAK GROUND) – 1) to break the ground or to make a hole in it with a tool, machine, etc: 2) informal – uncover or locate sth hidden or unexpected
The Water Board is digging up the road outside to upgrade the water supply.
Barbara’s dug up some wonderful photos of Sam when he was a baby.
wind up – careful of pronunciation rhymes with ‘find’ or ‘kind’ – informal
annoy or upset someone
eg Bridget was a dab hand at winding her Mum ….up.
winding rhymes with ‘finding’
a dab hand – informal – being very good at a particular activity
He’s a dab hand at sailing.
It really winds him up when people go on about lecturers having an easy life.
Emily certainly knows how to wind her sister up.
dream up – invent something very imaginative and usually silly
eg Martin’s dreamt up some plan of going abroad and working as a travel rep.
It’s a typical ploy dreamt up by advertising companies to sell their new products.
ploy – noun – something that is done or said in order to get an advantage – often dishonestly – or to fabricate an excuse
eg I said I was going into town as a ploy to get out of having a conversation with her.

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Answers for Quiz [1].

• 1. By buying the flat when they did they ……………….. dreadful debts. (correct)
• 2. We’ve ………………. with various businesses to discuss forming a new joint project. (correct)
• 3. Susie sounded upset – then all of a sudden, she just ………………. . (correct)
• 4. She’s running late – the traffic’s ………………. her ………………. . (correct)
• 5. She was disappointed not to get the job – but she ………………. when she realised they were offering her one just as good, if not better! (correct)
• 6. Julie and Ricky have ………………. and moved to Devon. (correct)
• 7. These accounts don’t make sense – I think I’ve ………………. somewhere. (correct)
• 8. They intended to keep the numbers for their wedding small – but when they ………………. they realised they’d invited over a hundred, even so! (correct)
• 9. Graham’s ………………. the post of area supervisor. (correct)
• 10. Barbara’s ………………. some wonderful photos of Sam when he was a baby. (correct)
• 11. Bridget was a dab hand at ………………. her Mum ….. (correct)
• 12. Martin’s ………………. some plan of going abroad and working as a travel rep. (correct)