Learn Phrasal Verbs about Family, Friends and Lovers with their meaning and examples in English.
Here are some phrasal verbs that we can use when talking about relationships we have with other people.
Phrasal Verbs about FAMILY
List of Useful Phrasal Verbs Related to Family
- be named after (somebody)
Be given the name of another person
I was named after my grandfather John.
- bring (somebody) up
Look after and influence a child until he or she is grown up
He was brought up by his grandparents.
- fall out with (somebody)
Argue with somebody and stop being friendly with them
My father fell out with one of his brothers and they didn’t speak for years.
- get along/ on (well) with (somebody)
Have a good, friendly relationships with somebody
I don’t get along with my sister – we have nothing in common.
- get together
Meet together, having planned it before
The whole family needs to get together to decide what to do about the trip.
- go by
Prefer to be called by a certain name
My full name is Isabel but I go by Isa. My brother Jonathan goes by John.
- grow apart
Gradually begin to have a less close relationship
He said he and wife Brenda had been growing apart for at least a year.
- grow up
Develop from being a child to being an adult
I grew up in Chicago.
- look after (somebody)
Care for or be in charge of somebody
My eldest sister looked after me very well. She’s an excellent cook.
- look up to (somebody)
Admire somebody greatly
I’ve always looked up to my brother for his courage and determination.
- take after (somebody)
Be similar in character/ appearance to an older family member
Jennie really takes after her mother.
- tell (somebody) off
Criticize somebody for their actions
My dad told me off for swearing.
- come into (something)
Receive money, land, or property from someone after they have died
She’ll come into quite a lot of money when her father dies.
Phrasal Verbs Related FRIENDS & LOVERS
- get on with (somebody)
Have a good relationship with somebody
I get on very well with James.
- fall out with (somebody)
No longer speak/ be friends with somebody after having an argument
Carrie’s always falling out with people.
- make up (with somebody)
Reconcile or end a dispute with somebody
I fight with my brother all the time, but we always make up soon afterwards.
- go out (with somebody)
Be in a romantic relationship with somebody
We went out for a meal and then on to a movie.
- break up (with somebody)
End a relationship with somebody
The couple broke up last year.
- hang out (with somebody)
Spend time with somebody
I spent a lot of time listening to records and just hanging out with friends.
- meet up (with somebody)
Meet someone in order to do something together
We often meet up after work and go for a drink.
- fall for (somebody)
Fall in love
That was the summer I worked at the fairground, and met and fell for Lucy.
- split up
End a relationship
Steve’s parents split up when he was four.
- bump into (somebody)
Meet by accident
I bumped into Jean in town.
- give (somebody) up
Stop having a friendship with somebody
I knew deep down that I should give him up.
- hit it off
Have a good relationship from the first time you meet a person
I knew you’d hit it off with Mike.
