lay up
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle up
Meanings
Force someone to stay in bed because of illness or injury
Why “up”? The action stops. With give up, up can show that someone stops trying.
“Flu laid him up for a week.”
“A knee injury laid her up for ten days.”
Don't confuse with
Lay up means make someone stay in bed because they are ill. Lay out means arrange things so people can see them.
Test yourself
“Flu laid him up for a week.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
lay out
A contrast learners often mix up
Spread or arrange items so they can be seen
break up
Same up pattern: stopping
Break into pieces; End a relationship or gathering
close up
Same up pattern: stopping
Shut a shop or building, often at the end of the day; Move closer together so there is no gap; (of a wound or opening) heal or seal itself; Become silent or unwilling to share feelings
give up
Same up pattern: stopping
Stop trying; surrender
hang up
Same up pattern: stopping
End a phone call
let up
Same up pattern: stopping
Become less intense or stop
loosen up
Same up pattern: stopping
Become less tense or formal, especially before an activity
pack up
Same up pattern: stopping
Stop working; quit
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