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When my students first learn about phrasal verbs for relationships, they light up — suddenly they can talk about their families and friendships in a much more natural way. A student once told me, “Teacher, I finally understand what my grandmother meant when she said I ‘grew apart’ from my best friend from school.” These 25 phrasal verbs are the ones you’ll hear in conversation about the people you care about, from casual friendship moments to serious relationship discussions. For more, see our best podcasts for ESL learners. For more, see our business English guide.
You’ll breaks down phrasal verbs for family relationships, friendships, and romantic connections. Each verb comes with clear meanings, notes on separability and formality, and real examples you can use right away. Whether you’re talking about how you grew up, who you take after, or how you got on with a friend, these verbs will help you express yourself authentically.
Key Takeaways
- Family actions — grow up, take after, bring up, look after — describe family connections and roles.
- Relationship dynamics — get along with, fall out with, grow apart — show how relationships change over time.
- Romantic actions — fall for, go out with, break up with, hit it off — cover dating and romance.
- Meeting and separating — meet up, bump into, get together, split up — describe connections and disconnections.
- Separability varies — get along with and fall out with are inseparable; bring someone up is separable.
Phrasal Verbs about Family Relationships
Family phrasal verbs describe how you relate to parents, siblings, grandparents, and extended family — who you resemble, how you were raised, and what roles family members play in your life.
Be named after
/biː ˈneɪmd ˈɑːftər/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Be given the same name as another person, usually in honour of them.
Note: Neutral to semi-formal. Respectful and often used in family stories.
Example 1: I was named after my grandfather John, who my parents admired.
Example 2: She’s named after her great-grandmother — they share the same middle name.
Bring (someone) up
/brɪŋ ʌp/ — phrasal verb (separable). Raise a child; care for and educate a child until they reach adulthood.
Note: Neutral. Standard in family discussions and parenting talk.
Example 1: He was brought up by his grandparents after his parents moved abroad.
Example 2: My parents brought me up to be respectful and kind.
Fall out with
/fɔːl aʊt wɪð/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Have a serious disagreement with someone; argue and stop being friendly.
Note: Casual to neutral. Common in personal stories about conflicts.
Example 1: My father fell out with one of his brothers and they didn’t speak for years.
Example 2: She fell out with her best friend over a misunderstanding, but they made up later.
Get along / Get on (well) with
/ɡet əˈlɔːŋ wɪð/ or /ɡet ɔn wɪð/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Have a good, friendly relationship with someone; cooperate well with someone.
Note: Neutral. Very common in everyday conversation.
Example 1: I don’t get along with my sister — we have nothing in common.
Example 2: He gets on well with most people in the office.
Get together
/ɡet təˈɡeðər/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Meet as a group, usually by arrangement, to spend time together.
Note: Neutral to casual. Used for planned family or friend gatherings.
Example 1: The whole family needs to get together to decide what to do about the trip.
Example 2: We get together every Christmas at my parents’ house.
Go by
/ɡəʊ baɪ/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Prefer or be known by a certain name rather than your full or legal name.
Note: Neutral. Straightforward when explaining names.
Example 1: My full name is Isabel but I go by Isa. My brother Jonathan goes by John.
Example 2: She goes by her middle name — it’s shorter and easier for people to remember.
Grow apart
/ɡrəʊ əˈpɑːrt/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Gradually become less close to someone; develop a less intimate relationship over time.
Note: Neutral to semi-formal. Often used in reflective discussions about relationships.
Example 1: He said he and his wife Brenda had been growing apart for at least a year.
Example 2: My best friend and I grew apart after we went to different universities.
Grow up
/ɡrəʊ ʌp/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Develop from a child into an adult; mature.
Note: Neutral. One of the most common phrasal verbs.
Example 1: I grew up in Chicago, but I’ve lived abroad for many years.
Example 2: Where did you grow up?
Look after
/lʊk ˈɑːftər/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Care for or be responsible for someone; provide for their well-being.
Note: Neutral. Common in family and caregiving contexts.
Example 1: My eldest sister looked after me very well during my teenage years.
Example 2: Who will look after the children while you’re at work?
Look up to
/lʊk ˈʌp tuː/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Admire someone greatly; respect someone and wish to be like them.
Note: Neutral to semi-formal. Often used with emotional sincerity.
Example 1: I’ve always looked up to my brother for his courage and determination.
Example 2: Children often look up to their parents or role models.
Take after
/teɪk ˈɑːftər/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Be similar in appearance or character to an older family member, usually a parent or grandparent.
Note: Neutral. Very common in family conversations and observations.
Example 1: Jennie really takes after her mother — they have the same eyes and personality.
Example 2: He takes after his grandfather — both are stubborn but kind-hearted.
Tell (someone) off
/tel ɔːf/ — phrasal verb (separable). Scold or criticize someone for their actions or behaviour.
Note: Casual to informal. Often implies some irritation or authority.
Example 1: My dad told me off for swearing at my brother.
Example 2: The teacher told off the students for being late again.
Come into
/kʌm ˈɪntuː/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Receive money, land, or property from someone after they have died; inherit.
Note: Formal. Often used in legal or financial discussions about inheritance.
Example 1: She’ll come into quite a lot of money when her father dies.
Example 2: He came into a small house in the countryside from his grandmother’s will.
Phrasal Verbs about Friends and Romance
These verbs describe the dynamics of friendship and romantic relationships — how friendships form, how they change, and how romantic relationships develop and end.
Fall for
/fɔːl fɔː/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Fall in love with someone; become attracted to someone romantically.
Note: Casual to romantic. Often used with a lighter or playful tone.
Example 1: That was the summer I worked at the fairground, and met and fell for Lucy.
Example 2: He fell for her the moment he saw her — it was love at first sight.
Go out (with)
/ɡəʊ aʊt wɪð/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Be in a romantic relationship with someone; date someone.
Note: Casual to neutral. Very common among young people and in informal conversation.
Example 1: We went out for a meal and then on to a movie.
Example 2: They’ve been going out together for two years.
Break up (with)
/breɪk ʌp wɪð/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). End a romantic relationship with someone.
Note: Casual to neutral. Standard way to describe the end of a relationship.
Example 1: The couple broke up last year after dating for five years.
Example 2: She broke up with him because they wanted different things in life.
Hang out (with)
/hæŋ aʊt wɪð/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Spend time with someone in a relaxed, informal way; socialise casually.
Note: Very casual. Extremely common among friends, especially younger people.
Example 1: I spent a lot of time listening to records and just hanging out with friends.
Example 2: We hung out at the coffee shop on Saturday afternoon.
Meet up (with)
/miːt ʌp wɪð/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Meet someone by arrangement; get together with someone socially or professionally.
Note: Casual to neutral. Very common for planned social meetings.
Example 1: We often meet up after work and go for a drink.
Example 2: Let’s meet up this weekend — it’s been too long!
Make up (with)
/meɪk ʌp wɪð/ — phrasal verb (separable). Reconcile with someone after an argument; end a disagreement and be friendly again.
Note: Casual to neutral. Used in reconciliation contexts.
Example 1: I fight with my brother all the time, but we always make up soon afterwards.
Example 2: They had a terrible argument, but they made it up by the end of the day.
Split up
/splɪt ʌp/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). End a relationship (romantic or, less commonly, friendship); break up.
Note: Casual to neutral. Slightly less formal than break up.
Example 1: Steve’s parents split up when he was four.
Example 2: They split up because they grew apart over the years.
Bump into
/bʌmp ˈɪntuː/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Meet someone by chance; encounter someone unexpectedly.
Note: Casual to neutral. Very natural-sounding in everyday conversation.
Example 1: I bumped into Jean in town — we hadn’t seen each other in ages!
Example 2: You’ll never guess who I bumped into at the supermarket yesterday.
Give (someone) up
/ɡɪv ʌp/ — phrasal verb (separable). Stop having a friendship with someone; end a relationship or association with someone.
Note: Neutral to formal. Often carries some weight or emotional significance.
Example 1: I knew deep down that I should give him up — our friendship wasn’t healthy anymore.
Example 2: She gave up her friends when she moved abroad, but they stayed in touch online.
Hit it off
/hɪt ɪt ɔːf/ — phrasal verb (inseparable). Have an immediate positive relationship when meeting someone; become friends immediately.
Note: Casual. Friendly and positive tone.
Example 1: I knew you’d hit it off with Mike — you have so much in common.
Example 2: When my two best friends finally met, they hit it off immediately.
Common Mistakes Learners Make
✗ Incorrect: I’m growing apart from my friend. (awkward)
✓ Correct: My friend and I are growing apart.
Why: Grow apart is intransitive — you don’t “grow apart from” someone, you “grow apart” together as the relationship changes.
✗ Incorrect: She has fall for him.
✓ Correct: She has fallen for him.
Why: Fall for is irregular. Past tense is fell, not fall; past participle is fallen.
✗ Incorrect: We go out with every weekend.
✓ Correct: We go out every weekend. or We go out together.
Why: Go out with someone means “date them.” If you mean “spend time together,” say “go out together” or “hang out together.”
✗ Incorrect: They split up last year but they still looking after each other.
✓ Correct: They split up last year, but they still look after each other.
Why: Verb agreement. “They” requires plural “look,” not “looking” (and needs proper punctuation).
Two friends catching up
Ana: How have things been? I feel like we’ve grown apart since uni.
Leo: I know! We should meet up more often. I bumped into Sarah last month and we hit it off immediately.
Ana: Oh, good! How’s Sarah doing? Didn’t she break up with her boyfriend?
Leo: Yeah, they split up. But she seems happy now. We’ve been hanging out regularly.
Ana: That’s lovely. I’m really sorry we fell out of touch. Let’s get together soon — all of us.
Leo: Definitely! I’d love to see you and catch up properly.
Quick Quiz
- What does “take after” mean? (a) Follow someone (b) Resemble in appearance or character (c) Chase after
- If you “bump into” someone, you: (a) Physically push them (b) Meet them by accident (c) Have a collision
- Which verb means “to reconcile after an argument”? (a) break up (b) make up (c) grow apart
- “She fell for him” means: (a) She actually fell and he caught her (b) She fell in love with him (c) She dropped something
- “We’ve been hitting it off” means: (a) We’ve been fighting (b) We’ve been hitting things (c) We’ve had a great relationship from the start
Answers: 1. (b) Resemble in appearance or character · 2. (b) Meet them by accident · 3. (b) make up · 4. (b) She fell in love with him · 5. (c) We’ve had a great relationship from the start.
Related Phrasal Verbs Articles
- Phrasal Verbs about Food and Cooking
- Phrasal Verbs about Business
- Phrasal Verbs about Money and Finance
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Phrasal Verbs (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between “get along with” and “get on with”?
They mean exactly the same thing. Get along with is more common in American English, while get on with is more common in British English. Both mean “have a good relationship with someone.”
Can you say “she grows apart” (present tense)?
Yes, but it’s less common than the continuous form. They grow apart (present) is correct but more abstract. They are growing apart (present continuous) is more natural and suggests a gradual, ongoing process.
Is “split up” the same as “break up”?
Split up and break up mean very similar things and can often be used interchangeably. Break up is slightly more formal and specifically about romantic relationships, while split up can apply to any relationship or partnership ending.
What’s the difference between “fall for” and “fall in love with”?
Fall for is a phrasal verb that means the same as fall in love with, but it’s more casual and contemporary. I fell for him sounds more natural and modern than I fell in love with him in casual speech, though both are correct.
How do you use “hit it off” correctly?
Hit it off means to have an immediate, positive connection. It’s intransitive: We hit it off immediately (not We hit it off with each other, though “with” can follow in some contexts: They hit it off with their new neighbors).
Is “go by” the same as “go out with”?
No. Go by means “be known by a certain name” (e.g., She goes by her middle name). Go out with means “date someone.” These are completely different phrases.
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