This lesson covers 30 C2 phrasal verbs on Relationships, Friends & Family. At Proficiency you must distinguish particles that change meaning subtly and match register across formal and informal contexts. Complete the runner, then use the glossary below to consolidate each verb. Detailed explanations appear in Review mode once you finish the set.
strike up sth
to start a conversation or relationship with someone
They struck up a friendship while waiting at the school gate.
catch up on/with sth
to do something you did not have time to do earlier
The friends met to catch up on each other’s news.
fit in with sth
if one activity or event fits in with another, they exist or happen together in a way which is convenient
His new partner fits in well with the family.
gather up sth or gather sth up
to collect several things, especially from different places, and put them together
She gathered up the children’s coats before leaving.
be sandwiched between sb/sth
informal to be in a small space in the middle of two people or things
At dinner, Maya was sandwiched between two chatty cousins.
live-in adj
a live-in nanny lives at the home of the children she cares for
The family hired a live-in nanny to care for the children.
put down roots
to settle down and make a relationship more permanent
After years in the city, they wanted to put down roots near family.
hook up
US informal to meet someone for a particular purpose
The two friends hooked up after losing touch for years.
patch up sth or patch sth up
to try to improve your relationship with someone after an argument
The sisters patched up their disagreement after a long talk.
keep in with sb
British & Australian to continue to be friendly with someone, especially because they can help you
She keeps in with her neighbours by offering to help.
get your act together
to organise yourself more efficiently
After the disagreement, he tried to get his act together.
turn up the heat
to make a relationship more intense
The parents turned up the heat when their son refused to apologise.
letdown n
something which is not as good as you thought it would be
Missing the wedding was a real letdown for the whole family.
split up (sth) or split (sth) up
to divide into smaller parts or groups, or to divide something into smaller parts or groups
The couple decided to split up after months of arguments.
bust-up n
informal a break in a relationship
The couple tried to stay friends after their bust-up.
round up sb/sth or round sb/sth up
to find and gather together a group of people or animals
She rounded up the children before leaving the playground.
sleep off sth or sleep sth off
to sleep until you feel better, especially after too much alcohol
She slept off the stress after the difficult family weekend.
shoot off
British & Australian informal to leave somewhere very quickly
He shot off to call his worried mother.
turn away sb or turn sb away
to refuse to allow someone to enter a place, usually because there is no more space
The family turned away the visitor because it was too late.
creep up on sb
if a date or an event creeps up on someone, it seems to come or happen sooner than they were expecting
A feeling of loneliness crept up on him after he moved away.
be mixed up with sb
to be involved with someone who has a bad influence on you
Her parents worried that she was mixed up with the wrong crowd.
suck up to sb
informal to try to make someone who is in a position of authority like you by doing and saying things that will please them
He sucked up to his older brother when he wanted a favour.
butter up sb or butter sb up
informal to be very nice to someone so that they will do what you want them to do
He buttered up his sister before asking to borrow her car.
drag sb away from
informal to make somebody stop doing something, so that they can do something else
Her parents dragged her away from the dangerous crowd.
get-together n
an informal meeting or party
We are having a small get-together this weekend.
have/had heard of sb/sth
to know a little about someone or something because you have read, seen, or been told something about them before
I have heard of that family, but I have never met them.
take out sb or take sb out
to go somewhere and do something with someone, usually something that you have planned or paid for
They took their grandparents out for dinner.
put back sth or put sth back
to change the date or time of an event so that it happens later than planned
They put back the visit until everyone was feeling better.
put together sth or put sth together
to prepare, or organise something
The children put together a photo album for their grandparents.
cheat on sb
informal to behave in a dishonest way towards your husband, wife, or usual sexual partner by having a sexual relationship with someone else
She ended the relationship after learning that he had cheated on her.