Phrasal verbs for relationships can add nuance and a more conversational tone when discussing relationships. Remember, context is key, and the meaning can slightly shift depending on how they’re used in sentences. Some of the phrases can be used for any kind of relationship (friendship/acquaintanceship/marriage/partners).
◦Break up – to end the relationship
Examples: I broke up with my girlfriend last night. / Are we breaking up?
◦Cut loose – to let go of someone or something / to stop dating
Examples: Hey, you need to cut loose of the girl before you get into trouble (You need to stop dating that girl). / David cut loose his girlfriend last night.
◦Fall for – to fall in love
Examples: I fell for her beautiful smile. / I fall for blonds.
â—¦Fall out (falling out) – to have an argument or disagreement / (of love) to grow apart
Examples: I had a big falling out with my brother. / We are falling out of love.
◦Get along – to have a friendly or harmonious relationship
Examples: The dogs get along with each other. / The children get along with each other. / I get along well with my wife.
◦Go out – to go out on a date / to carry on a romantic or sexual relationship
Examples: I want to go out with Sue (I want to date Sue). / Are John and Marie going out? / Let’s go out tonight, honey.
◦Let down – to fail to support or do something
Examples: John really let me down last night when he didn’t show up. / He let his wife down when he forgot their anniversary.
◦ Look up to – to admire or respect
Examples: I look up to my wife because she always handles all the problems with grace. / I have always looked up to my father.
â—¦Look down on – opposite to look up to / to regard another with superiority
Examples: Don’t look down on me (Don’t judge me). / He sadly always looked down on his wife.
◦Make out – to kiss for an extended period
Examples: The two couples were making out (kissing) in front of the store. / High schoolers always come here to make out.
◦Move on – to leave / to stop having romantic feelings for someone
Examples: I need my space. I need to move on (do something different). / It took Faith years to move on after her husband passed.
◦Patch up – to repair a relationship
Examples: We need to patch up our marriage. / Steven and Brenner have been friends since grammar school but had a falling out. They finally patched up their broken friendship.
◦Put up with – to tolerate
Examples: I put up with my boyfriend’s bad jokes. / I have to put with her fowl mouth at work.
◦Settle down – to start a more stable life
Examples: I want to settle down and get married. / He settled down with a beautiful woman, and they had two kids.
◦Split up – to separate or break up
Examples: They need to split up. /My parents split up when I was 14.
◦Stand by – to be loyal to someone
Examples: I will stand by my man no matter what happens. / Jen stood by her husband through thick and thin.
â—¦Wear down – to make tired or exhausted
Examples: She’s wearing me down calling every five minutes. / Bella began to be worn down by her boyfriend’s constant verbal attacks.
◦Wrestle with – to deal with a problem, possibly argue with
Examples: I don’t want to wrestle with my husband tonight over finances. / We have been wrestling with getting a new car for a couple of years.
For further study:
â—¦Why study Phrasal verbs?
â—¦ Phrasal verbs for emotions
â—¦Phrasal verbs for everyday
â—¦Phrasal verbs for mechanics
â—¦Phrasal verbs for travel
