20+ Useful Phrasal Verbs Relating to Clothes

When it comes to clothes, there are many phrasal verbs that are commonly used to describe different actions or states related to clothing. These verbs often consist of a base verb and one or more particles, and they can have multiple meanings depending on the context. For example, “put on” can mean to wear or to start wearing something, while “take off” can mean to remove or to stop wearing something.

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Phrasal Verbs Relating to Clothes

List of Phrasal Verbs Relating to Clothes

List of common clothing phrasal verbs in English

Try on – to put on clothes to see if they fit or look good
Put on – to dress oneself in clothes
Take off – to remove clothes
Get dressed – to put on clothes in preparation for going out
Get undressed – to take off clothes, usually in preparation for going to bed
Slip into – to put on clothes easily or quickly
Put on – to wear for the first time
Change into – to put on different clothes
Take off – to remove clothes
Dress up – to wear formal or fancy clothes
Dress down – to wear casual or informal clothes
Put on – to make an item of clothing look bigger or looser than it actually is
Take in – to make an item of clothing fit better by making it smaller
Put out – to iron clothes
Hang up – to put clothes on hangers
Fold up – to put clothes in a pile and press them firmly with your hand so they are no longer creased
Put away – to put clothes back in the closet or dresser
Throw on – to put on clothes quickly and without much attention to how they look
Layer up – to put on multiple layers of clothes
Take off – to remove clothes

Common Phrasal Verbs Relating to Clothes

1. do up

To fasten an item of clothing

E.g: Do up your coat or you’ll get cold.

2. dress up

Put on different clothes to look smarter than usual

E.g: He went to the party dressed up as a Chicago gangster.

3. hang out

To dry clothes outside after washing

E.g: The weather was fine, so she hung out the washing.

4. hang up

To put something on a hook or a hanger

E.g: Don’t leave your clothes on the floor, hang them up.

5. have on

To be wearing a piece of clothing or type of clothing

E.g: Jimmy had nothing on but his socks.

6. kick off

To remove your shoes quickly

E.g: She kicked off her shoes.

7. put on

To dress yourself or someone else with an item or items of clothing

E.g: Put on my hat.

8. slip on

Put on an item of clothing very easily.

E.g: She slipped on her flip flops before she went into the sea.

9. take off

To remove a piece of clothing

E.g: Charlie was taking off his shirt when the phone rang.

10. try on

To put on an item of clothing to find out whether it fits or is suitable.

E.g: She always tried shoes on before she bought them.

11. throw on

To put on an item of clothing quickly and carelessly

E.g: I threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

12. turn up

Shorten some trousers, a dress or a skirt so that they fit better

E.g: Mr Smith’s jeans were too long, so asked Mrs Smith to turn up the bottom of the jeans so they fitted.

13. wrap up

To put on warm clothes

E.g: She was wrapped up in a thick winter coat.

14. zip up

To fasten something using a zip, or to become fastened using a zip

E.g: The dress zipped up at the front.

15. come off

To become removed from an item of clothing

E.g: He was then running too fast and his shoes came off.

16. go with

Suit each other

E.g: Those shoes go with your dress.

17. Pull on

Put clothes on quickly

E.g: James pulled off his socks.

18. Show off

Show something to a lot of people

E.g: He bought her a ring and she is showing it off.

19. Take in

To make an item of clothing smaller/ more narrow

E.g: You lost weight, and your dress doesn’t fit. I’ll have to take it in.

20. wear out

To use an item until it is no longer in good condition

E.g: I wore out my boots. I need to buy a new pair soon.

21. button up

To fasten one’s clothing tightly, as against cold weather

E.g: You should button up your shirt.

Examples of Phrasal Verbs Relating to Clothes

I think I need to go on a diet. I can’t get into my jeans.
These jeans are too small for me. I’ll give them away to my friend.
Do these shoes go with this dress?
I’m looking for my slippers. Do you know where they are?
It’s really difficult to pick out a dress. They’re all so beautiful.
I need to pick up my suit from the dry cleaners today.
Teenagers never put away their clothes.
Put on a coat. It’s cold.
Take off that hat. It looks ridiculous.
Don’t throw away clothes. Recycle them instead.
I always try on shoes before I buy them.
Children wear out their clothes quickly because they play so much.

Phrasal Verbs Relating to Clothes | Image

Questions for Phrasal Verbs Relating to Clothes

Have you ever found it difficult to take something off in a changing room?
When you put away your clothes in a neat and orderly fashion or throw them in your wardrobe?
Do spend a long time picking out clothes when you go shopping?
Have you ever bought clothes without trying them on first?
How do you choose what to put on in the morning?
Do you ever wear clothes until they wear out?
How often do you throw away clothes?
Do you ever give away your clothes?
Of all the items in your wardrobe, what’s the most difficult to get into?
Do you have anything in your wardrobe that won’t go with anything else?