March 21, 2012 By Angela Boothroyd
1. To pack up something (or pack something up) is to collect your things together and put them into bags or boxes so that you can take or send them somewhere.
Examples of use:
a) We got to the market late – the sellers were packing up their stalls and going home.
b) Her husband packed up his possessions and moved out on Saturday.
c) On the last day of the festival people began to pack up their tents and head for home
d) The builders stopped work and packed up their tools at 3pm.
2. If a machine or piece of equipment packs up it stops working.
UK informal English.
Examples of use:
a) I’m sorry I’m late. My car packed up on the way here!
b) My washing machine has packed up again.
3. To pack up is to finish work for the day.
Informal English.
Example of use:
We pack up early on Fridays and go for a meal and a couple of drinks.
4. To pack up something is to stop doing something.
Example of use:
He packed up smoking on New Year’s Eve.
| infinitive |
pack up |
| present simple |
pack up and packs up |
| -ing form |
packing up |
| past simple |
packed up |
| past participle |
packed up |
Can you write a sentence using this phrasal verb?
Has your car ever packed up?
Image © Arian Zwegers
