Feelings 2 — Phrasal Verbs
Emotions · 8 phrasal verbs · Level B1
bottle up
Meaning: to hide your feelings instead of expressing them
BOT-tle UP transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: Don't bottle up your anger — talk about it.
In conversation: He bottles up his feelings until he explodes.
Common partners: bottle up emotions · bottle up anger
⚠️ Common mistake: With feelings as the object: bottle up your stress, bottle it up.
A You bottle up everything.
B I know. I'm working on it.
lighten up
Meaning: to relax and stop being so serious
LIGHT-en UP intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: Lighten up! It was just a joke.
In conversation: The mood lightened up after lunch.
Common partners: lighten up a little · lighten the mood
⚠️ Common mistake: Said to a person it can sound rude — soften it: Hey, lighten up a little, okay?
A Lighten up — we still won second place.
B You're right. It was fun.
perk up
Meaning: to become happier or more energetic
perk UP intransitive & transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: A short walk in the sun can perk up anyone.
In conversation: Good news always perks him up.
Common partners: perk up after coffee · perk up a room (brighten)
⚠️ Common mistake: Coffee, news, or music can perk you up; a person perks up (no object needed).
A You perked up fast!
B Chocolate works miracles.
wind down
Meaning: to relax slowly after activity or stress
wind DOWN intransitive & transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: I wind down with a book after work.
In conversation: The party wound down around midnight.
Common partners: wind down after work · wind down for the night
⚠️ Common mistake: A business can wind down too (close slowly). People wind down to relax.
A How do you wind down?
B A walk and no phone for an hour.
let down
Meaning: to disappoint someone
let DOWN transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: Don't let down your team — finish your part.
In conversation: He let me down when he forgot.
Common partners: let down a friend · feel let down
⚠️ Common mistake: Let down is gentle disappointment, not betrayal: I felt let down, not furious.
A Sorry I let you down yesterday.
B It's okay — just tell me next time.
look forward to
Meaning: to feel happy about a future event
look FOR-ward to transitive inseparable — the object stays after the whole verb
Example: I look forward to the holidays every year.
In conversation: We look forward to seeing you soon!
Common partners: look forward to the weekend · look forward to meeting you
⚠️ Common mistake: CLASSIC TRAP: after 'to' use -ing, never the base verb: I look forward to SEEING you.
A I look forward to the trip!
B Me too — three days in Miami!
get over
Meaning: to recover from illness, shock, or a relationship
get O-ver transitive inseparable — the object stays after the whole verb
Example: It took months to get over the flu.
In conversation: She finally got over her ex.
Common partners: get over an illness · get over a breakup
⚠️ Common mistake: You get over SOMETHING (illness, shock, a person): get over it / get over him.
A Did you get over that cold?
B Mostly — still coughing a little.
move on
Meaning: to leave the past behind and continue with life
move ON intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: After the divorce, she moved on and rebuilt her life.
In conversation: It's hard, but it's time to move on.
Common partners: move on from the past · move on to a new job
⚠️ Common mistake: Move on TO a new topic/job: Let's move on to chapter two.
A Time to move on from this job.
B Scary — but exciting too.
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