Phrasal verb
ring up
Meanings
To call someone on the phone.
To enter purchases on a cash register and calculate the total cost.
Definition
To ring up someone means to call them on the phone.
“Ring up” most commonly means to telephone someone, especially in British English. It can also mean to record or add up a total on a cash register or computer system at a store. In shopping contexts, it often refers to the cashier entering items and producing the final bill.
Examples
- I’ll ring up my brother after dinner.
- Could you ring up the hotel and ask about late check-in?
- She rang up her manager to report the delay.
- They rang up the tickets as soon as the box office opened.
- The cashier rang up my items and handed me the receipt.
Common mistake
Learners often forget that in the phone sense it usually takes a person as the object (ring up someone), not a number alone.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.