30 Phrasal Verbs for Feelings and Emotions

Have you ever tried to express your feelings in English, only to realize you’re using the same old adjectives like “happy,” “sad,” or “angry” over and over again?

If you’re a language learner—or even a seasoned speaker—you might sometimes feel like your emotional vocabulary is a bit… flat.

Well, here’s the good news: there’s a whole world of phrasal verbs waiting to help you level up your emotional expressions.

Phrasal verbs, those quirky combinations of verbs and prepositions or adverbs, add a layer of nuance to your language that regular adjectives just can’t match.

Want to say you’re “really sad” without sounding repetitive?

Try “feel down.”

Or maybe you want to express that you’re “super excited”? “Buzzing” is a fun choice.

In this post, we’ll dive into 30 phrasal verbs that will help you talk about your feelings like a native speaker.

You’ll see real-world examples, simple explanations, and practical takeaways.

Ready to sound more natural and expressive in English?

Let’s get started!

1. Cheer Up (To feel better after being sad)

When someone is feeling down, a friend might say, “Cheer up!” It’s a way of encouraging someone to feel better, typically when they’re feeling sad or disappointed.

Example: “I know you didn’t get the job you wanted, but cheer up! You’ll find something else soon.”

2. Come Down (To become less excited or emotional)

This phrasal verb is used when someone calms down from an emotional high, whether from excitement or anger.

Example: “He was so excited about the concert, but he’ll come down soon once we’re back home.”

3. Come Around (To change your opinion or mood)

If someone “comes around,” they shift their attitude or mood to a more positive one.

Example: “Don’t worry. She’ll come around once she hears the full story.”

4. Get Over (To stop feeling upset about something)

When you’re “getting over” something, it means you’re moving on from a negative feeling or situation, like a breakup or a loss.

Example: “It took me a long time to get over my first heartbreak, but eventually, I was okay.”

5. Warm Up To (To gradually begin liking something or someone)

This is a great way to express when you don’t immediately like something or someone but over time, you start to enjoy it.

Example: “At first, I didn’t like the new teacher, but I started to warm up to him after a few weeks.”

6. Lighten Up (To become less serious or upset)

If someone is being too serious or angry, you can tell them to “lighten up” to suggest they relax and not take things too seriously.

Example: “Come on, lighten up! It was just a joke.”

7. Let Down (To disappoint someone)

This is a phrasal verb that expresses the feeling of disappointment, usually when someone doesn’t meet your expectations.

Example: “I thought she’d help me, but she really let me down when she didn’t show up.”

8. Blow Up (To suddenly become very angry)

If you “blow up,” it means you suddenly lose your temper or get very angry about something.

Example: “He blew up when he found out the meeting had been canceled.”

9. Break Down (To lose control of emotions, often leading to tears)

This is typically used when someone becomes overwhelmed by their emotions and starts crying or getting upset.

Example: “She broke down in tears when she heard the bad news.”

10. Pick Up (To feel better after a difficult time)

If someone is “picking up” emotionally, they’re recovering from a bad situation and starting to feel better.

Example: “After the rough week, I’m starting to pick up again and feel more positive.”

11. Liven Up (To become more lively or energetic)

This phrasal verb describes when a situation or person becomes more cheerful or energetic.

Example: “The party really livened up once the band started playing.”

12. Settle Down (To become calm or relaxed)

When someone “settles down,” they calm their emotions or relax after a period of excitement or stress.

Example: “It took a while, but after the big move, I finally settled down in my new city.”

13. Snap Out Of (To stop being upset or sad and return to normal)

If you tell someone to “snap out of” a bad mood, you’re urging them to get out of it and move on.

Example: “Come on, snap out of it! You’ve been in a bad mood for days.”

14. Go Off (To suddenly become very angry)

When someone “goes off,” they get really angry and often express it loudly.

Example: “She went off when she found out someone had used her laptop without asking.”

15. Soothe Over (To calm down a situation or person)

If you’re “soothing over” a situation, you’re trying to calm things down or make someone feel better.

Example: “He tried to soothe over the argument by apologizing.”

16. Pick On (To treat someone unfairly or make them feel bad)

This phrasal verb is used when someone is bullying or unfairly targeting another person.

Example: “It’s not okay to pick on someone just because they’re different.”

17. Chill Out (To relax or calm down)

If someone tells you to “chill out,” they’re asking you to calm down or relax.

Example: “You need to chill out; everything is going to be fine.”

18. Feel Up To (To have the energy or desire to do something)

When you “feel up to” something, it means you’re in the mood or have the energy for it.

Example: “I’m not sure if I feel up to going out tonight, I’ve had a long day.”

19. Be Down In The Dumps (To feel sad or depressed)

If you’re “down in the dumps,” you’re feeling really sad or depressed.

Example: “After hearing the bad news, he was down in the dumps for days.”

20. Cry Out For (To need something urgently)

When a situation “cries out for” something, it means it’s really in need of help or improvement.

Example: “This project really cries out for someone who knows how to organize things.”

21. Get Along With (To have a good relationship with someone)

When you “get along with” someone, you have a friendly relationship and don’t argue.

Example: “I really get along with my coworkers—they’re all so kind.”

22. Hype Up (To get very excited or enthusiastic)

If something is “hyped up,” it means you’re building excitement or anticipation for it.

Example: “She was so hyped up about the concert, she couldn’t stop talking about it.”

23. Pull Yourself Together (To regain control of your emotions)

If you’re “pulling yourself together,” you’re stopping yourself from being overly emotional and getting back to a more stable state.

Example: “After the shock, he had to pull himself together and go back to work.”

24. Blow Off Steam (To release built-up anger or frustration)

When you “blow off steam,” you’re letting out your frustration or anger in a safe way.

Example: “I always go for a run to blow off steam after a stressful day.”

25. Warm Up (To feel more comfortable or relaxed)

This is used when someone starts to feel more comfortable, whether physically or emotionally.

Example: “At first, I was nervous about meeting new people, but I warmed up once I started talking.”

26. Get A Kick Out Of (To enjoy something)

When you “get a kick out of something,” it means you really enjoy or find something amusing.

Example: “I get a kick out of watching comedy shows—it’s the best way to relax.”

27. Freak Out (To become extremely anxious or panicked)

This one is used when someone becomes very anxious, worried, or frightened.

Example: “She freaked out when she lost her phone at the airport.”

28. Break Up (To end a relationship)

If you “break up” with someone, it means you end a romantic relationship.

Example: “They broke up after two years of dating, and it was really tough for both of them.”

29. Zone Out (To mentally disconnect or daydream)

If you “zone out,” it means you stop paying attention to what’s going on around you, often because you’re lost in your thoughts.

Example: “I tend to zone out during long meetings—it’s hard to stay focused.”

30. Shake Up (To cause a significant change or disruption in your life)

When your life is “shaken up,” it’s been disturbed or significantly changed—often in an emotional or chaotic way.

Example: “The news of the move really shook me up, but now I’m adjusting.”

Conclusion

English is full of rich, colorful ways to express how we feel.

And when you use phrasal verbs, you’re adding depth to your emotional expressions.

Whether you’re cheering someone up, calming down, or just venting some frustration, these 30 phrasal verbs will help you sound more natural and confident in your conversations.

So, next time you’re talking about your emotions, try swapping out basic adjectives for one of these phrasal verbs.

It’s a fun way to spice up your language and sound more like a native speaker.

After all, emotions are anything but simple—so why not make your language just as dynamic?