When talking about our daily routines and lifestyle, we often rely on phrasal verbs to express ourselves naturally. Whether you’re talking about your morning routine or making lifestyle changes, these phrasal verbs will come in handy! Here we explore seven phrasal verbs that are closely related to different aspects of lifestyle, along with explanations and examples.
7 common phrasal verbs to talk about everyday life
1. Wake up
This is probably the most essential phrasal verb when talking about your lifestyle! "Wake up" means to stop sleeping and become conscious. It's often used when discussing morning routines or the time when someone begins their day. The difference between wake up and get up is that you can wake up but still be in bed. To get up means to leave the bed.
Do you get up as soon as you wake up, or do you like to stay in bed an contemplate the day first?
Examples
- “I usually wake up at 6 a.m. on weekdays, but at the weekend, I sleep in.” (Suelo despertarme a las 6 de la mañana entre semana, pero los fines de semana duermo hasta tarde)
- “She woke up late today because she forgot to set her alarm." (Hoy se despertó tarde porque olvidó poner el despertador)
- “Do you find it hard to wake up in winter?” (¿Te cuesta despertarte en invierno?)
2. Work out
"Work out" refers to exercising to stay fit and healthy. Many people incorporate workouts into their lifestyles to maintain a balanced life, whether it's through going to the gym or doing yoga at home. Be careful with this phrasal verb, it also has a different meaning which is to calculate!
Examples
- “I try to work out at least three times a week to stay in shape.” (Intento hacer ejercicio al menos tres veces por semana para mantenerme en forma)
- “He’s been working out regularly, and you can see the difference in his energy levels.” (Hace ejercicio con regularidad y se nota la diferencia en sus niveles de energía)
- “If you want to feel more active, you should start working out in the morning.” (Si quieres sentirte más activo, deberías empezar a hacer ejercicio por la mañana)
3. Cut down on
This phrasal verb means to reduce the amount of something, especially when it comes to habits or consumption that are part of a lifestyle. It’s often used when talking about reducing unhealthy foods, habits, or expenses.
Examples
- “I’ve decided to cut down on sugar because I want to improve my diet.” (He decidido reducir el azúcar porque quiero mejorar mi dieta)
- “She cut down on her coffee intake after her doctor advised her to.” (Redujo su consumo de café después de que su médico se lo aconsejara)
- “They’re cutting down on unnecessary spending to save for their vacation.” (Están recortando gastos innecesarios para ahorrar para sus vacaciones)
4. Chill out
"Chill out" is a great phrasal verb when talking about relaxation and taking it easy. It means to relax and reduce stress, and is often used when describing free time or unwinding after a long day.
Examples
- “After a busy day at work, I love to chill out with a good book.” (Después de un ajetreado día de trabajo, me encanta relajarme con un buen libro)
- “We had a great weekend. We didn’t do much, we just chilled out at home.” (Hemos pasado un fin de semana estupendo. No hicimos mucho, sólo nos relajamos en casa)
- “Let’s chill out by the pool today and just enjoy the sunshine.” (Relajémonos hoy junto a la piscina y disfrutemos del sol)
5. Give up
This phrasal verb is frequently used in lifestyle conversations, particularly when talking about quitting a habit or something that was previously a part of your routine. "Give up" means to stop doing something, often something you’ve tried to quit for a while.
Examples
- “I gave up smoking two years ago, and I feel much healthier now.” (Dejé de fumar hace dos años y ahora me siento mucho más sana)
- “She’s trying to give up junk food to focus on healthier eating habits.” (Está intentando dejar la comida basura para centrarse en hábitos alimentarios más sanos)
- “He gave up watching TV during the week to focus more on his studies.” (Dejó de ver la televisión durante la semana para centrarse más en sus estudios)
6. Take up
This one is the opposite of "give up" and refers to starting a new hobby, activity, or habit. "Take up" is used when people decide to begin something new as part of their lifestyle or routine.
Examples
- “I took up yoga last month, and it has really helped me feel more relaxed.” (Empecé a hacer yoga el mes pasado y me ha ayudado a sentirme más relajada)
- “He’s taking up painting as a new hobby during his free time.” (Está empezando a pintar como nuevo pasatiempo durante su tiempo libre)
- “You should take up cycling! It’s a great way to stay fit and explore the outdoors.” (Deberías empezar a practicar ciclismo. Es una forma estupenda de mantenerse en forma y explorar la naturaleza)
7. Stay in
"Stay in" refers to choosing not to go out and instead remain at home. This is often used when talking about lifestyle choices for weekends or evenings, especially when you want to relax rather than go out.
Examples
- “We stayed in last night and watched a movie instead of going to the party.” (Anoche nos quedamos en casa y vimos una película en vez de ir a la fiesta)
- “On rainy days, I prefer to stay in and bake some cookies.” (En los días lluviosos, prefiero quedarme en casa y hornear galletas)
- “After a busy week, I just want to stay in and catch up on sleep this Saturday.” (Después de una semana ajetreada, este sábado sólo quiero quedarme en casa y recuperar el sueño)
Learning and using phrasal verbs can make your English sound more natural, especially when talking about everyday routines and lifestyle choices. Now that you’ve got a handle on these seven verbs, try using them in your daily conversations!
Below are some exercises to help you practise. Remember you can do them over and over again until you know the phrasal verbs off by heart!