What Does โBump sth upโ Mean?
โBump sth upโ means to increase or raise something, often in a casual or informal way. It is commonly used to talk about raising prices, numbers, or levels.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โbump sth upโ is widely used in everyday English to describe the action of increasing or raising something. Whether you want to talk about raising your salary, increasing the volume, or boosting a budget, โbump sth upโ fits perfectly. Understanding the bump sth up meaning helps learners sound natural and confident when discussing changes or improvements. It is especially useful in informal conversations or business settings when discussing adjustments or enhancements. This phrase is simple but effective and can be applied to many different situations.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: bump something up
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to increase or raise something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โBump sth upโ is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between โbumpโ and โupโ or after โup.โ
- Subject + bump + object + up
- Example: They bumped the price up yesterday.
- Subject + bump up + object
- Example: They bumped up the price yesterday.
How to Use โBump sth upโ?
You can use โbump sth upโ when talking about increasing numbers, prices, levels, or amounts. It is informal and often used in spoken English and business conversations. For example, you can bump up a salary, a budget, the volume of music, or even the speed of a process. The phrase adds a casual tone to your sentence, making it sound more natural and less formal.
Examples
- They decided to bump up the price of tickets for the concert.
- Can you bump up the volume? I canโt hear the TV.
- We need to bump up our marketing budget this quarter.
- She bumped up her study hours before the exam.
- Bump sth up in a sentence: The company bumped up salaries to keep employees happy.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: They bump up the price yesterday.
Correct: They bumped up the price yesterday. - Incorrect: Can you bump up?
Correct: Can you bump up the volume? - Incorrect: I want to bump up about my salary.
Correct: I want to bump up my salary.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include raise, increase, and turn up. However, โbump sth upโ is more informal and often used in spoken English.
- Raise: More formal and general. E.g., โThey raised the price.โ
- Increase: Formal and used in writing and speech. E.g., โWe increased the budget.โ
- Turn up: Specifically for volume or settings. E.g., โTurn up the music.โ
- Bump up: Informal, casual increase, often with a sense of quick or small rise.
Common Collocations
- bump up the price
- bump up the volume
- bump up the salary
- bump up the budget
- bump up the speed
- bump up the numbers
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of bump sth up:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: The company wants to bump up our salaries this year.
John: Thatโs great news! I hope they bump up the bonuses too.
Anna: Me too. I heard they bumped up the budget for training as well.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- a) They bumped the rent up last month.
- b) They bump up the rent last month.
- c) They bump the rent up last month.
Answer: a) They bumped the rent up last month.
FAQs
- Q: Can I use โbump sth upโ in formal writing?
A: It is better suited for informal or conversational English. Use โincreaseโ or โraiseโ in formal writing. - Q: Is โbump upโ separable?
A: Yes, you can place the object between โbumpโ and โupโ or after โup.โ - Q: Can I use โbump upโ for people?
A: Usually, it refers to things like numbers or amounts, not people. - Q: What is the difference between โbump upโ and โturn upโ?
A: โBump upโ means to increase amounts or levels, while โturn upโ usually means to increase volume or brightness. - Q: Can โbump upโ be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, the past tense is โbumped up.โ
