Phrasal verbs for relationships

Today's lesson is about phrasal verbs we use to describe relationships. Keep reading to learn how to talk about family relationships, friendships and romance. 

​get on (with)
= have a good or friendly relationship with
I love my job because I get on really well with all my colleagues.
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look after
= take care of
Can you look after the children while I go to the shop?

take after
= have a similar appearance or personality to a parent (or grandparent) because of DNA
Wow! You really take after your dad! You look just like him!
 
hit it off
= have an instant connection when you meet
We were in the same class and really hit it off! Now we're best friends.

fall out (with)
= have an argument and stop being friendly
She fell out with her best friend last week and hasn't spoken to her since.

make (it) up (with)
= become friendly again after falling out
I often argue with my brother but we always make it up again afterwards.

look up to
= admire or respect
He's a great boss and everybody looks up to him.

look down on
= feel superior to someone or lack respect
Sarah looks down on people who don't have as much education as she does.

drift apart
= gradually become less close with time
They drifted apart when John moved to London.

ask out
= invite someone on a date
He really likes her but he's too shy to ask her out.

go out (with)
= be in a romantic relationship with
She has been going out with him for a couple of months.
(This phrasal verb can just mean not stay at home. It depends on the context. If I say I'm going out with Peter tonight, maybe we are just friends, but I've been going out with Peter for a couple of months means he's my boyfriend.)

break up / split up
= end a romantic relationship
She's very upset because her boyfriend has just broken up with her.

settle down
= choose a long-term relationship rather than a series of relationships
She had lots of boyfriends when she was younger but now she wants to settle down and start a family.

cheat on
​= have a relationship with somebody who is not your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife
She found out that her husband was cheating on her.

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If you like this post, you may also like this one: phrasal verbs for talking about telephone calls.


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