Upper-Intermediate 💬 Idioms & Phrasal Verbs · #39 of 182

Phrasal Verb: Back Up

to support or save a copy

Examples

  • Back up your files.

Key rules

  • Back up means support someone or make a safety copy of data
  • It is separable: back up your files or back your files up
  • With a pronoun, the pronoun goes in the middle: back them up
  • The noun "backup" means a copy

Common mistakes

  • Back up them → Back them up
💡 Tip: The noun form is "backup" with no space: a backup copy.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Upper-Intermediate quiz
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Phrasal Verb: Come Up With

to think of an idea

Phrasal Verb: Put Up With

to tolerate

Phrasal Verb: Bring About

to cause

Phrasal Verb: Turn Down

to reject

Phrasal Verb: Take Over

to gain control

Idiom: Bite the Bullet

face something unpleasant bravely