Phrasal Verbs with UP

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act up

(intransitive) to behave poorly(human);to reoccur(disease);to malfunction(machine)

I think I'll stand rather than sit because my hemorrhoids are acting up again

add up

(intransitive) to result in a certain total

I've calculated that over and over, but it just doesn't add up.

back up

(separable) to go in reverse

When Steve passed the beautiful girl hitchhiking on the freeway, he immediately stopped the car, backed up, and offered her a ride.

back up

(separable) to help or support

I will back my friends up no matter what they do.

back up

(separable) to make copies of computer files just in case something happens to the original files

Please be sure to back up your files before you go home each day.

ball up

(separable) to roll or form something into a round shape

When max does his laundry, instead of folding everything nicely when it?s done, he just balls everything up and throws it in a bag.

beat up

(separable) to hurt someone by hitting and/or kicking them repeatedly

The bully beat the other kids up for their lunch money.

blow up

(separable) to inflate

Al's job was to sell the balloons. Jim's job was to blow them up.

blow up

(separable) to explode or to destroy something with an explosion

Mary was arrested for blowing up Max's car with a homemade bomb.

blow up

(intransitive) to suddenly become angry

The teacher blew up when she discovered that the students hadn't done their homework.

break up

(separable) to cause to disperse or scatter

What time did the cops break the party up last night?

bring up

(separable) to mention

When talking to Mary, Max never brings up her criminal record.

bring up

(separable) to raise or rear

Mowgli was a boy brought up by wolves.

call up

(separable) to telephone

Mary called the priest up to tell him the wedding was off.

cheer up

(intransitive) to become happier or less miserable

Max cheered up at the end of the night.

cheer up

(separable) to make someone become happier or less miserable

We tried very hard to cheer Mary up, but nothing we did worked.

clean up

(separable) to clean completely

When living with others it is important to clean up after yourself.

come up

(intransitive) to be mentioned

In Max's conversation with Mary, the topic of their wedding never came up.

come up

(intransitive) to approach, draw near

Mary came up and introduced herself.

crank up

(separable) to increase the power or volume

Every time that song comes on the radio, I crank it up.

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