Morning & Evening — Phrasal Verbs
Daily routines · 8 phrasal verbs · Level A2
stay up
Meaning: to go to bed later than usual
stay UP intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: We stay up late on Fridays and watch a movie.
In conversation: Don't stay up too late — you have work tomorrow.
Common partners: stay up late · stay up all night
⚠️ Common mistake: Not: 'I stayed up at midnight' — stay up needs a length or 'late': I stayed up until midnight.
A Why are you so tired?
B I stay up until two most nights. Bad habit.
lie down
Meaning: to put your body flat, usually to rest
lie DOWN intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: After lunch, Grandpa Joe likes to lie down for twenty minutes.
In conversation: I'm going to lie down — my head hurts.
Common partners: lie down for a nap · lie down on the couch
⚠️ Common mistake: The past is 'lay': Yesterday I lay down at nine. Not: 'I lied down.'
A You look pale. Lie down for a bit.
B Good idea. Wake me in twenty minutes.
fall asleep
Meaning: to begin sleeping
fall a-SLEEP intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: I read in bed and fall asleep in ten minutes.
In conversation: Careful — you'll fall asleep on the couch again.
Common partners: fall asleep fast · fall asleep on the couch
⚠️ Common mistake: 'Sleep' is the state; the change is fall asleep: Not 'I slept at eleven' when you mean the moment you started — I fell asleep at eleven.
A The baby will fall asleep after her bottle.
B She always does. Then we can have dinner in peace.
doze off
Meaning: to fall asleep lightly, often by accident
doze OFF intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: After a big lunch, I always doze off for ten minutes.
In conversation: Careful — I might doze off during this movie.
Common partners: doze off on the couch · doze off in class
⚠️ Common mistake: Not: 'doze off the couch' — say doze off ON the couch.
A Did you doze off in the meeting?
B Just for a minute. The room was so warm.
get dressed
Meaning: to put your clothes on
get DRESSED intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: I get dressed quickly and leave by seven.
In conversation: Hurry up and get dressed — we're late!
Common partners: get dressed quickly · get dressed up (wear smart clothes)
⚠️ Common mistake: It uses an adjective, not a verb: get dressed, not 'get dress'.
A Get dressed, kids — the bus is coming!
B Two more minutes, Mom!
tidy up
Meaning: to make a place neat and organized
TI-dy UP transitive & intransitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: Please tidy up your room before dinner.
In conversation: Let's tidy up — guests arrive in an hour.
Common partners: tidy up a room · tidy up after yourself
⚠️ Common mistake: Not: 'tidy up it' — with a pronoun: tidy it up.
A Can you tidy up the kitchen?
B Sure, give me ten minutes.
lock up
Meaning: to lock all the doors and windows of a place
lock UP transitive & intransitive separable — a pronoun goes in the middle of the verb
Example: Don't forget to lock up the office when you leave.
In conversation: Did you lock up?
Common partners: lock up the house · lock up for the night
⚠️ Common mistake: Not: 'lock up the lights' — you lock up a BUILDING; you turn off lights.
A Who's going to lock up tonight?
B I will — I have the keys.
turn in
Meaning: to go to bed
turn IN intransitive intransitive — no object
Example: I'm exhausted — I think I'll turn in early tonight.
In conversation: Let's turn in. Tomorrow starts at six.
Common partners: turn in early · turn in for the night
⚠️ Common mistake: Turn in has a second meaning (submit work: turn in your essay) — context tells you which.
A It's midnight. Time to turn in.
B Agreed. See you at breakfast.
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