How to translate English Phrasal Verbs Up/ Down (e.g tidy up/ lay down) in French?

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Last Updated: December 9, 2021

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Some people asked me to make  a list of Phrasal Verbs (move up, tear down) in French. We do not use these little things (up/down) to change the meaning of a verb. But we have a similar concept with "les verbes pronominaux" (Pronominal Verbs), you can check it out  in this article  here.

This list is non exhaustive. But there is already more than 100 entries. If you want me to add more, just ask me in the comment section.

Phrasal Verbs translated in French

Phrasal Verbs with UP ( e.g: Throw-up)

phrasal verbs up french
add up
additionner
back up
soutenir / sauvegarder
beat up
tabasser
blow up
agrandir (image, photo), exploser
break up
rompre / se terminer
brighten up
s’éclaircir / se dégager
bring up
élever / soulever
catch up
rattraper
cheer up
remonter le moral à / retrouver le moral
clean up
nettoyer
clear up
ranger / s’éclaircir
climb up
monter
come up
monter / soulever / être soulevé
come up to
arriver à / s’approcher de
come up with
proposer / suggérer
do up
fermer / attacher / boutonner / retaper
dress up
s'habiller, se mettre sur son trente et un
eat up
finir son assiette
end up
finir / se retrouver
face up to
accepter / faire face à
fill up
remplir
get up
se lever
give up
abandonner, renoncer à
go up
monter / augmenter
grow up
grandir, devenir adulte
hang up
accrocher / suspendre / raccrocher
heat up
faire réchauffer / (faire) chauffer
hold up
lever / retarder / attaquer
hurry up
se presser, aller plus vite, se dépêcher
keep up
suivre / continuer
lift up
soulever
line up
faire la queue
look after
s’occuper de
look up
lever les yeux / chercher
make up
inventer / se réconcilier / se maquiller
          
make up for
compenser / rattraper
mess up
mettre en désordre / gâcher / bâcle
mix up
confondre / embrouiller / mélanger
muddle up
mélanger / embrouiller
own up
avouer
pick up
ramasser / chercher / apprendre / draguer
pile up
s’entasser / s’empiler / s’accumuler
pull up
remonter / s’arrêter
pump up
gonfler
put up
ériger / monter (les prix)/ mettre / augmenter / héberger
put up with
supporter
read up on
parcourir / lire en entier
ring up
appeler / téléphoner à
roll up
rouler / retrousser
save up
mettre de l’argent de côté
set up
créer / installer / monter
show up
arriver
shut up
se taire
sit up
se redresser (assis)
speak up     
parler fort
speed up
aller plus vite
split up
se séparer
stand up
se lever
stand up for
défendre
stay up
ne pas se coucher
sum up
résumer
swell up
enfler / gonfler
take up
se mettre à / prendre
tear up
déchirer
throw up
jeter en l'air; vomir
tidy up
ranger, remettre de l'ordre
tie up
ficeler / attacher
turn up
mettre plus fort (sound)/ venir / arriver
wake upréveiller / se réveiller
warm up
réchauffer / faire réchauffer / se réchauffer / s’échauffer
wash up
faire la vaisselle (UK) / se laver (US)
well up
avoir les larmes aux yeux
wind up
se retrouver / se terminer / remonter
wipe up
essuyer
wrap up
emballer / envelopper / récapituler / se couvrir

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Phrasal Verbs with Down (e.g: get down)

phrasal verbs up french
bend down (to lean)se pencher
bend downse baisser
blow downabattre (vent)
break downtomber en panne / échouer
calm downse calmer, apaiser
chop downabattre
climb downdescendre
come down (price)baisser (prix, profits)
come downdescendre / baisser
cool downrefroidir / refraîchir /baisser (température)
cut downréduire (sa consommation)
drink downboire d'un trait
fall downtomber
get downdescendre
get down tose mettre à une activité
go downdescendre / baisser
hand downtransmettre (propriété, traditions)
kneel downs'agenouiller
knock downrenverser
lay / set / put downposer
let downlaisser tomber
lie downs’allonger / se coucher
look downbaisser les yeux
look down onregarder de haut
look down on sbtoiser, regarder de haut
note downnoter
pour downpleuvoir à verse
pull downdémolir / baisser
put downposer
settle downs'installer, s'adapter, se calmer
sit downs'asseoir
slow down       ralentir
take downdémonter / enlever / noter
tear downdémolir
track downretrouver
turn down (offer)refuser (une offre)
weigh downalourdir
wolf / bolt downdévorer, engloutir
write downinscrire, coucher par écrit

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About the author 

Frederic Bibard is the founder of Talk in French, a company that helps french learners to practice and improve their french. Macaron addict. Jacques Audiard fan. You can contact him on Instagram

  • J’aime la liste et l’introduction au concept.

    Une petite parenthèse, vous avez oublié la traduction pour le verbe “to face up to.” Par hasard, vous avez mis l’expression anglaise dans les deux colonnes.

  • […] Talk in French How to translate English Phrasal Verbs Up/ Down (e.g tidy up/ lay down) in French? »…. Reading time: 2 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate Level Some people asked me to make a list of Phrasal Verbs (move up, tear down) in French. […]

    • Actually go upstairs = monter (similar to go up here) same for go downstairs (descendre). Stairs = les escaliers (set of steps) / les marches (marche = single step).

      Je monte (les escaliers) / Je descends (les escaliers). Escalier is optional . I hope it helps 🙂

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