What Does “Take up with sb” Mean?
“Take up with sb” means to begin a relationship or friendship with someone, often unexpectedly or with someone new. It can sometimes suggest a close or even suspicious association.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “take up with sb” is commonly used in English to describe starting a relationship or friendship with another person. This phrase often implies that the connection is new and sometimes hints at surprise or concern from others. The phrase is useful in everyday conversations and storytelling to express how someone joins or associates with a particular person. Understanding the “take up with sb meaning” helps learners describe social interactions clearly and naturally.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: take up with somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to start a friendship or relationship with someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Take up with sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot place the object between “take” and “up”. The correct pattern is:
- Subject + take up with + somebody
Examples:
- She took up with a new group of friends last month.
- He took up with some interesting people at the conference.
How to Use Take up with sb?
Use “take up with sb” when you want to talk about someone starting to spend time with or becoming friends with another person. It often implies a new or unexpected connection. This phrase is common in informal speech and writing.
It can also sometimes suggest that the relationship might be unusual or disapproved of by others, though this depends on context.
Examples
Here are some examples to show how “take up with sb” is used in sentences:
- After moving to the city, she took up with a group of artists.
- He took up with some old classmates from university.
- My brother took up with a new crowd that likes to travel a lot.
- She took up with the wrong people and got into trouble.
- They took up with a local band and started attending their concerts regularly.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use the wrong preposition. Here are some common mistakes and the correct forms:
- Incorrect: She took with up some new friends.
- Correct: She took up with some new friends.
- Incorrect: He took up some friends with.
- Correct: He took up with some friends.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “hang out with,” “get together with,” and “make friends with.” However, “take up with sb” often implies a new or unexpected association, sometimes with a negative or suspicious tone.
- Hang out with: spend time casually with friends (neutral tone).
- Get together with: meet or gather socially (neutral tone).
- Make friends with: form a friendship (positive tone).
- Take up with: start associating with someone, possibly unexpectedly or controversially.
Common Collocations
When using “take up with sb,” the object is usually a person or a group of people. Here are common collocations:
- Take up with friends: start being friends with someone.
- Take up with crowd: join a group, often with a specific reputation.
- Take up with people: begin associating with certain individuals.
- Take up with strangers: start a relationship with unknown persons.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of take up with sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “take up with sb”:
Anna: Have you noticed that Tom has been acting differently lately?
Ben: Yeah, he took up with some new friends from work.
Anna: Really? I wonder what kind of people they are.
Ben: I’m not sure, but he seems happier now.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence that uses “take up with sb” properly:
- A) She took up some new friends with last week.
- B) He took up with new colleagues recently.
- C) They took with up a new group.
Answer: B) He took up with new colleagues recently.
FAQ
- Q: Can “take up with sb” mean to start dating someone?
A: Yes, it can mean starting a romantic relationship but usually focuses on friendship or association. - Q: Is “take up with sb” formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal and used in everyday conversations. - Q: Can I separate “take” and “up” in this phrasal verb?
A: No, “take up with sb” is inseparable. The object must come after the whole phrase. - Q: Does “take up with sb” have a negative meaning?
A: Sometimes, it can imply a suspicious or unwanted connection, depending on context. - Q: What level of English learner is “take up with sb” suitable for?
A: It is suitable for intermediate learners (B2 level).
