phrasal verb · neutral

take up with

/teɪk ʌp wɪð/TAKE UP with

speakingtask2

to begin associating with someone (often informal/negative), or to raise an issue with someone (take something up with someone)

Examples

He took up with a new group of friends at university.

If the product is faulty, take it up with customer service.

She warned him not to take up with the wrong crowd.

Band 8 sentence

Before escalating the matter, I advised him to take it up with HR to find a practical solution.

Collocations

  • take up with the manager
  • take up with a new crowd

Word family

take up with, took up with, taking up with verb phrase

Common mistakes

I decided to take with up the managerI decided to take the issue up with the manager

He took up with bad friends (meaning: he complained to them)He took up the issue with the manager

Say it for a higher band

5meet6befriend7+take up with

Synonyms

befriend

raise with

Easily confused

make up with

They argued yesterday but made up with each other this morning.

Related words

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In take …

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