Phrasal Verbs for Talking About Relationships
Relationships are an important part of life, and we often talk about friends, family, love, marriage, breakups, and social connections.
In real English, native speakers commonly use phrasal verbs to describe relationships instead of formal or difficult words.
Expressions like get along, fall out, or break up are used naturally in daily conversations.
In this lesson, you will learn useful phrasal verbs for talking about relationships, along with clear meanings and simple example sentences.
These phrasal verbs will help you speak more naturally, express emotions clearly, and improve fluency, especially in spoken English and IELTS Speaking topics.
1. Get Along
Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
Example: “I really get along with my coworkers.”
When you get along with someone, it means you like each other and work or spend time together without any problems. This is a common phrasal verb used to talk about friendships, family, or even work relationships.
Example Sentences:
- “Do you get along with your parents?”
- “My best friend and I get along perfectly.”
2. Break Up
Meaning: To end a romantic relationship.
Example: “They decided to break up after three years together.”
Breaking up is a sad but necessary part of life for many people. It refers to when a couple decides to stop being together. It can happen for many reasons, but it often involves a lot of emotions.
Example Sentences:
- “We broke up last month, but we’re still friends.”
- “It was hard to break up with him, but it was for the best.”
3. Make Up
Meaning: To forgive each other and become friends again after a fight.
Example: “After a big argument, they made up and everything was fine.”
Making up is what happens when two people who have fought or disagreed decide to forgive each other and repair their relationship. It’s an important part of any healthy relationship.
Example Sentences:
- “We argued, but we made up quickly.”
- “It took some time, but we finally made up after the argument.”
4. Fall Out
Meaning: To stop being friends because of an argument or disagreement.
Example: “They fell out over a silly misunderstanding.”
Falling out is similar to breaking up, but it is used more for friendships and family relationships. It happens when two people stop talking or become distant because of a disagreement.
Example Sentences:
- “We fell out after the argument about money.”
- “I hope we don’t fall out over this issue.”
5. Get Together
Meaning: To meet or start a relationship with someone.
Example: “They got together after knowing each other for a few months.”
When two people get together, it means they begin a romantic relationship. It can also simply mean to meet for social reasons, but it’s commonly used to talk about couples starting a relationship.
Example Sentences:
- “They got together last summer.”
- “We’re planning to get together for coffee later.”
6. Break Down
Meaning: To become very emotional, often due to a relationship problem.
Example: “She broke down in tears after hearing the bad news.”
Breaking down emotionally happens when someone can no longer control their emotions. In relationships, this can happen during difficult conversations or arguments. It doesn’t always mean the relationship is over, but it often indicates a serious issue that needs attention.
Example Sentences:
- “He broke down when he realized she was moving away.”
- “She broke down during the meeting when talking about her family.”
7. Hit It Off
Meaning: To immediately like someone when you meet them.
Example: “They hit it off right away at the party.”
Hitting it off is used to describe the feeling of quickly becoming friends or partners with someone after meeting them. It’s a good sign that two people have a natural connection.
Example Sentences:
- “We hit it off as soon as we started talking.”
- “They didn’t hit it off at first, but now they’re best friends.”
8. Stand By
Meaning: To support someone, especially during tough times.
Example: “She stood by him through all the difficult moments in his life.”
Standing by someone is about showing loyalty and offering help during hard situations. It’s a sign of a strong, supportive relationship, whether with a friend, family member, or partner.
Example Sentences:
- “I’ll always stand by you, no matter what.”
- “He stood by his friend during the tough breakup.”
9. Ask Out
Meaning: To invite someone on a date.
Example: “He asked her out to dinner last night.”
Asking someone out is the action of inviting them to go somewhere or do something special, like going to a restaurant or seeing a movie. It’s the first step in starting a romantic relationship.
Example Sentences:
- “She was nervous when he asked her out.”
- “Have you ever asked someone out on a date?”
10. Grow Apart
Meaning: To slowly stop being close because of different interests or circumstances.
Example: “They grew apart after moving to different cities.”
Growing apart is a common phrase to describe the slow change in relationships. People can grow apart when their interests, goals, or lives change, and they start to drift away from each other.
Example Sentences:
- “We grew apart after high school.”
- “Sometimes, people grow apart over time.”
11. Look After
Meaning: To take care of someone.
Example: “She looks after her elderly parents.”
Looking after someone is an important part of many relationships. It’s about showing care and responsibility, especially when someone is in need.
Example Sentences:
- “He looks after his little brother while their parents are at work.”
- “She looks after him when he’s sick.”
12. Cheer Up
Meaning: To make someone feel happier after they are sad.
Example: “I tried to cheer her up after her breakup.”
When someone is feeling down or sad, you can try to cheer them up by doing something nice, giving them support, or just spending time with them to make them smile again.
Example Sentences:
- “She was upset, so I tried to cheer her up.”
- “They cheered me up when I was feeling low.”
13. Bring Up
Meaning: To start talking about a topic, especially a sensitive one.
Example: “He brought up the issue of moving in together.”
Bringing something up is often used to talk about starting a conversation on a particular topic. In relationships, it’s common to bring up sensitive issues like the future, feelings, or problems.
Example Sentences:
- “She brought up the idea of marriage during dinner.”
- “It’s hard to bring up difficult topics in a relationship.”
14. Settle Down
Meaning: To become stable and comfortable, often by getting married or starting a family.
Example: “They decided to settle down after traveling the world.”
Settling down is used when someone decides to stop moving around or living a carefree life and starts focusing on building a stable life, often with a partner or family.
Example Sentences:
- “They’re thinking about settling down and buying a house.”
- “I’m not ready to settle down yet.”
15. Fall For
Meaning: To fall in love with someone.
Example: “He fell for her the moment they met.”
Falling for someone is used when you start having romantic feelings for them. It’s an exciting part of relationships when attraction and love develop.
Example Sentences:
- “She fell for him quickly after their first date.”
- “He’s afraid of falling for someone again after his last heartbreak.”
Conclusion
Phrasal verbs are an important part of English, especially when talking about relationships.
They help us express our feelings, describe situations, and talk about how we connect with others.
Whether you’re getting along with someone, breaking up, or trying to make up after a fight, using the right phrasal verb can make your communication clearer and more natural.
Learning and using these phrasal verbs will help you sound more fluent and confident when discussing relationships in English.
Keep practicing, and you’ll soon feel more comfortable using them in your conversations!
Read more:
- Collocations with “Strong” and “Weak” in English
- Collocations Expressing Feelings and Emotions
- Top 10 Collocations in English
- 100+ English Collocations to Sound More Fluent
