Phrasal verb
ring up
To ring up someone means to call them on the phone.
Meanings
To call someone on the phone.
To enter purchases on a cash register and calculate the total cost.
Definition
“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.