Phrasal Verbs for Socializing: A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of everyday English, especially when it comes to socializing. They consist of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs), and their meanings often differ from the original verb. Mastering these phrasal verbs will help you sound more natural in conversations. Below is a detailed list of common phrasal verbs related to socializing, along with their meanings, examples, and exercises.
1. Hang out
Meaning: To spend time relaxing or socializing informally.
- We usually hang out at the café after work.
- Do you want to hang out this weekend?
- They hung out at the park all afternoon.
2. Catch up
Meaning: To talk to someone you haven’t seen in a while and share news.
- Let’s meet for coffee and catch up on everything.
- I need to catch up with my old school friends.
- We spent hours catching up after years apart.
3. Get along
Meaning: To have a friendly relationship with someone.
- I get along really well with my coworkers.
- Do you get along with your neighbors?
- They didn’t get along at first, but now they’re good friends.
4. Meet up
Meaning: To come together with someone, usually for social reasons.
- We should meet up for lunch sometime.
- They met up at the concert last night.
- Let’s meet up at the mall on Saturday.
5. Drop by
Meaning: To visit someone informally, often without planning.
- You can drop by my place anytime.
- She dropped by to say hello on her way home.
- We dropped by their house for a quick chat.
6. Run into
Meaning: To meet someone unexpectedly.
- I ran into an old friend at the supermarket.
- He ran into his teacher at the movie theater.
- We ran into each other at the airport.
7. Ask out
Meaning: To invite someone on a date.
- He finally asked her out to dinner.
- She was too shy to ask him out.
- They asked each other out after the party.
8. Break up
Meaning: To end a romantic relationship.
- They broke up after five years together.
- She was sad when they broke up.
- Why did you break up with your boyfriend?
9. Make up
Meaning: To reconcile after an argument.
- They had a fight but later made up.
- It’s time to make up and move on.
- Did you make up with your sister?
10. Cheer up
Meaning: To make someone feel happier.
- I tried to cheer her up after her bad day.
- He cheered up when his friends arrived.
- Let’s watch a comedy to cheer up.
Exercises
Test your understanding of these phrasal verbs with the following exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence.
- We should _____ for coffee next week. (meet up / break up)
- I _____ my cousin at the mall yesterday. (ran into / asked out)
- They had a fight but later _____. (made up / cheered up)
- Do you _____ with your new classmates? (get along / drop by)
- He finally _____ his crush to the movies. (asked out / hung out)
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb to Its Meaning
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hang out | To spend time relaxing |
| Catch up | To meet unexpectedly |
| Run into | To share news after time apart |
| Break up | To end a relationship |
| Cheer up | To make someone happier |
Exercise 3: Write Sentences
Write a sentence using each of the following phrasal verbs.
- Drop by
- Get along
- Make up
Answer Key
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
- meet up
- ran into
- made up
- get along
- asked out
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb to Its Meaning
| Phrasal Verb | Correct Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hang out | To spend time relaxing |
| Catch up | To share news after time apart |
| Run into | To meet unexpectedly |
| Break up | To end a relationship |
| Cheer up | To make someone happier |
Exercise 3: Sample Sentences
- I’ll drop by your house later.
- She gets along with everyone in her class.
- They fought but later made up.