Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Relationships
This set is for talking about friends, dating, and sharing a home: getting on with someone, moving in, and splitting up.
be up to
be busy doing
What are you up to this weekend?
What will you be busy doing this weekend?
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brush up (on)
refresh
I need to brush up on my French before the trip.
I need to refresh my French before the trip.
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be off to
leave for
She’s off to New York for a conference.
She’s leaving for New York for a conference.
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move in
relocate
They’ve decided to move in together next month.
They’ve decided to relocate together next month.
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get on (with)
have a good relationship
Do you get on with your new classmates?
Do you have a good relationship with your new classmates?
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take to
like
He’s really taken to his new hobby of painting.
He’s really started to like his new hobby of painting.
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chat up
flirt
He tried to chat up the new girl at the party.
He tried to flirt with the new girl at the party.
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split up (with)
end a relationship
They decided to split up after months of arguing.
They decided to end their relationship after months of arguing.
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think of
consider
Are you thinking of retiring?
Are you considering retiring?
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make up
make a decision
She finally made up her mind about which university to attend.
She finally made a decision about which university to attend.
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About this set
Use the verbs in everyday speech. Chat up is informal and mainly British; split up is the usual spoken opposite of getting together.
Make up here means become friends again after a row, the same repair meaning as in the Disappointed set.
Usage notes
- get on (with). Get on with someone means have a good relationship. Inseparable. This is not the “continue a task” meaning from Free Time.
- split up (with). Intransitive or with with: they split up / he split up with her. Informal spoken English for end a relationship.
- chat up. Informal British English for talking to someone because you are attracted to them. Separable: chat her up. It can sound dated or pushy, so use it with care.
- move in. Intransitive. Move in means start living in a place, often with a partner. The opposite is move out.
Common questions
What is the difference between split up and make up?
Split up means the relationship ends. Make up means you become friendly again after a disagreement. Couples can make up after a row without having split up.
Is get on with the same as take to?
Get on with is about an ongoing relationship — you get on with your flatmate. Take to is about a first reaction: I took to her immediately. You can take to someone and still not get on with them later.