In the Kitchen — Phrasal Verbs
Food & cooking · 8 phrasal verbs · Level A2
eat out
Meaning: to eat in a restaurant, not at home
eat OUT intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: We eat out once a week, usually on Saturdays.
In conversation: Let's eat out tonight — I'm too tired to cook.
Common partners: eat out often · eat out with friends
⚠️ Common mistake: The opposite is eat in / eat at home, not 'eat inside'.
A Do you want to eat out tonight?
B Yes! Let's try that new place on Main Street.
heat up
Meaning: to make food hot again
heat UP transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: I heat up yesterday's soup for lunch.
In conversation: Heat up the rice while I set the table.
Common partners: heat up leftovers · heat up in the microwave
⚠️ Common mistake: With a pronoun: heat it up, not 'heat up it'.
A Can you heat up the pizza?
B Sure — oven or microwave?
chop up
Meaning: to cut into small pieces
chop UP transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: Chop up the onions and add them to the pan.
In conversation: I'll chop up the peppers for the salad.
Common partners: chop up vegetables · chop up finely
⚠️ Common mistake: Not: 'chop up it' — chop it up.
A Chop up the carrots, please.
B Big pieces or small?
cut up
Meaning: to cut something into pieces
cut UP transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: First, cut up the chicken into eight pieces.
In conversation: Cut up the paper into small squares.
Common partners: cut up into pieces · cut up an apple
⚠️ Common mistake: Cut up focuses on dividing; chop up is faster, rougher cutting with a knife.
A Can you cut up the watermelon?
B Of course — pass me the big knife.
throw away
Meaning: to put something in the trash
throw a-WAY transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: Don't throw away those boxes — we can use them.
In conversation: Throw away the old milk; it smells bad.
Common partners: throw away trash · throw away old clothes
⚠️ Common mistake: With a pronoun: throw it away, not 'throw away it'.
A Should I throw away these papers?
B No! Those are my tax documents.
stock up
Meaning: to buy a lot of something to keep for later
stock UP intransitive (on + object) inseparable — the object stays after the whole verb
Example: We stock up on water before a storm.
In conversation: Let's stock up on rice — it's on sale.
Common partners: stock up on food · stock up before winter
⚠️ Common mistake: It needs 'on' before the thing: stock up ON coffee, not 'stock up coffee'.
A Why so many cans?
B I stock up when prices are low.
pour out
Meaning: to pour a drink for people / empty liquid
pour OUT transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: I pour out coffee for everyone at the table.
In conversation: Pour out a glass of juice for your sister.
Common partners: pour out coffee · pour out a drink
⚠️ Common mistake: For emptying a container completely, pour out works; for one glass, just 'pour' is more common.
A Pour out the tea, please.
B How many cups do we need?
mix up
Meaning: to put different things together / to confuse two things
mix UP transitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: Mix up the flour and sugar in a big bowl.
In conversation: I always mix up their names — Emma and Anna sound alike.
Common partners: mix up the ingredients · mix up names
⚠️ Common mistake: Mix up also means confuse: I mix up left and right. Context makes it clear.
A Don't mix up the salt and the sugar!
B Too late — check the blue jar.
Practice
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