phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb
cheer up
to become happier
What it means
To become happier or to help someone else feel less sad. It can be used as a gentle command: 'Cheer up, things will get better.'
Words like “cheer up” are exactly the kind of vocabulary our English vocabulary size test measures — find out how many English words you know.
Examples
- Some flowers might cheer her up after such a stressful week.
- Cheer up! The presentation wasn't as bad as you think.
- He always cheers up when his nephew comes to visit.
- I bought a silly card to cheer my friend up after surgery.
Where it comes from
Separable. Saying 'cheer up' to someone going through serious grief can feel insensitive, so it suits everyday minor disappointments best.
Related phrasal verbs
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