40 UP Phrasal Verbs in One Newspaper Article: Do you know them all?

A casual greeting or question asking what is happening.

Tone and use: Very informal and common in conversation. Use it with friends or familiar colleagues as a greeting or to ask for an update.

May not fit: It is usually too casual for a formal email or a first professional meeting.

A container holding several sheets or documents.

Tone and use: Everyday household phrase. Use it when describing a group of papers stored together.

May not fit: Name the box or papers more specifically if the listener needs to identify them.

More than forty examples or applications of something.

Tone and use: Neutral quantity phrase. Use it to describe a large number of examples or functions.

May not fit: Use “more than” when a precise, formal style is preferred.

Post a written example in the comment area beneath a video or page.

Tone and use: Common online instruction. Use it when inviting viewers to practise by posting an example.

May not fit: Avoid sharing private information in a public comment.

Politely ask readers to overlook mistakes.

Tone and use: Polite, slightly formal phrase. Use it when warning that a rushed or imperfect text may contain mistakes.

May not fit: Correct important errors rather than relying on the phrase as a substitute.

Stop sleeping and become awake.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it for becoming conscious after sleep or for waking another person.

May not fit: Distinguish “wake up” from “get up,” which means leave the bed.

A subject is mentioned or arises in conversation.

Tone and use: Common conversational phrasal verb. Use it when a subject appears naturally during a discussion.

May not fit: It often implies the topic was not formally introduced beforehand.

Talk more loudly so people can hear, or express an opinion openly.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb with more than one related use. Use it when someone needs to raise their voice or share a view.

May not fit: Context determines whether it means increase volume or voice an opinion.

Being considered by voters in an election.

Tone and use: Civic and political phrase. Use it when a position or candidate is part of an upcoming election.

May not fit: The exact election schedule depends on the jurisdiction.

Prepare a written report, often by organizing information into a finished document.

Tone and use: Common workplace phrasal verb. Use it when turning notes or findings into a report.

May not fit: Specify the topic or findings when several reports are involved.

Heat food that was saved from an earlier meal.

Tone and use: Everyday food phrase. Use it when reheating food that remains after a meal.

May not fit: Follow appropriate food-safety guidance when storing and reheating food.

Make the kitchen neat by washing, putting away, or removing messes.

Tone and use: Common household phrasal verb. Use it for tidying a kitchen after cooking or eating.

May not fit: The exact tasks can include dishes, counters, and putting food away.

Repair or improve an old car.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it when restoring or making repairs to a vehicle or another item.

May not fit: The phrase does not specify which repairs were made.

Cause or provoke problems or conflict.

Tone and use: Informal phrasal expression, usually negative. Use it when someone’s actions create tension or difficulty.

May not fit: It can sound accusatory; describe the specific action when fairness matters.

Stand in a line while waiting to buy or receive tickets.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it when people form a queue for tickets or another service.

May not fit: In some varieties of English, “queue up” is more common.

Become hungry through activity, effort, or time.

Tone and use: Common idiom-like phrase. Use it when exercise or activity makes someone hungry.

May not fit: It describes becoming hungry, not preparing food.

Wearing special or more formal clothes, often for an event or costume.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb in the past participle form. Use it when describing someone wearing clothing more elaborate than usual.

May not fit: The phrase can mean formal clothing or a costume, depending on context.

Blocked so that liquid or air cannot pass through.

Tone and use: Common descriptive phrasal phrase. Use it when describing a blocked drain, pipe, or opening.

May not fit: Use “clogged” as a more neutral alternative in some settings.

Shut a place or opening, often at the end of the day.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it when closing a business, container, or opening.

May not fit: Clarify what “it” refers to if the context is unclear.

Search a dictionary or reference source for a word’s meaning or information.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb with an object between verb and particle. Use it when checking a word in a dictionary or another source.

May not fit: With a pronoun, say “look it up,” not “look up it.”

Occupies space or time.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it to describe how much room or time something uses.

May not fit: Give a measurement or time estimate when precision matters.

Reach a total amount or number when combined.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it when separate quantities combine to form a total.

May not fit: State the parts being combined if the total is not clear.

If you feel able or ready to do something.

Tone and use: Informal and considerate phrase. Use it when checking whether someone feels able to take part.

May not fit: It can refer to energy or willingness; ask directly if the distinction matters.

Gradually creating or expanding a list by adding items.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb in the -ing form. Use it when collecting examples or entries over time.

May not fit: It emphasizes gradual growth, not simply making a list once.

Eventually have or obtain a particular result.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it when describing the outcome reached after a process.

May not fit: It can be neutral or negative; the context signals the speaker’s attitude.

Becoming cloudy as clouds cover more of the sky.

Tone and use: Informal weather expression. Use it to describe a sky becoming overcast.

May not fit: Weather phrases vary by region; “getting cloudy” is also common.

Becoming clearer, often because clouds or confusion are going away.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb with weather and problem-solving uses. Use it for improving weather or resolving uncertainty.

May not fit: Context determines whether it refers to weather or a problem.

Become dry or cause something to lose its moisture or supply.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it when water or another supply gradually disappears.

May not fit: It can also describe a supply or source disappearing figuratively.

Annoyed or frustrated because an unwanted situation has continued.

Tone and use: Informal and emphatic. Use it to describe strong frustration with a repeated problem.

May not fit: It can sound intense; use “frustrated” for a milder tone.

Pay or contribute the amount required to join a game or meet an obligation.

Tone and use: Informal, originally associated with card games. Use it when someone must put money or effort into a shared activity.

May not fit: It can sound forceful when used figuratively to demand a contribution.

Prove a claim through action or stop making the claim.

Tone and use: Blunt, confrontational idiom. Use it only in a deliberately challenging or joking context.

May not fit: It can sound rude or aggressive in professional conversation.

Finish or bring an activity to a close.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it when ending a meeting, task, or discussion.

May not fit: It can sound impatient if someone still needs time to contribute.

The allowed or available time has ended.

Tone and use: Common announcement. Use it when a time limit or scheduled period has finished.

May not fit: It can sound abrupt; explain the next step when appropriate.

Stop trying or quit an effort.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it when someone stops pursuing a goal or attempt.

May not fit: In the article, it is part of wordplay; in real situations, quitting can sometimes be appropriate.

Putting a response or idea into written form, often in an online comment area.

Tone and use: Common online participation phrase. Use it when describing the act of posting a written response.

May not fit: Avoid including personal details in a public comment.

Understand the expressions in greater depth or with more context.

Tone and use: Neutral learning phrase. Use it when additional examples help clarify meaning and use.

May not fit: Name what remains unclear when asking for further help.