The Language of Romance: 23 Essential English Phrasal Verbs for Love & Dating

Navigating romance can be a beautiful yet complex journey, and describing it in English adds its own set of challenges. Native speakers heavily rely on phrasal verbs—phrases consisting of a verb and a preposition—to share stories about their love lives.

Because the meaning of a phrasal verb is often unpredictable (for example, make out means to kiss, which has nothing to do with manufacturing something outside!), learning them in context is essential.

Below is a detailed breakdown of 23 crucial love, dating, and relationship phrasal verbs, arranged chronologically from the initial setup to a lasting commitment.

1. Making the Connection: From Matchmaking to Seduction

Every romantic story requires a spark. These expressions describe how two people are introduced and the initial steps taken to attract someone.

• 1. Set someone up (with someone): To organize a blind date or act as a matchmaker for two people.
  • Example: “My best friend set me up with his cousin last weekend.”
• 2. Get together: To gather or meet up with someone for a specific event or social plan.
  • Example: “We agreed to get together for a quick coffee.”
• 3. Show up: To arrive at a destination or an appointment.
  • Example: “I waited a long time for Lena, but she never showed up.”
• 4. Dress up: To wear nice, formal, or exceptionally fancy clothes to look your best.
  • Example: “Sarah always dresses up whenever she meets with her boyfriend.”
• 5. Go for (someone): To be attracted to a specific type of person or try to seduce them.
  • Example: “I don’t usually go for guys who are loud, but he was charming.”
• 6. Hit on (someone): To make intentional, direct romantic or sexual advances toward someone.
  • Example: “A guy at the club was hitting on all the single women by the bar.”
• 7. Turn someone on: To excite someone sexually. Note: Use this expression carefully as it carries a distinct sexual undertone.
  • Example: “Lydia put on her favorite red dress to turn Sam on.”
• 8. Pick someone up: To successfully seduce someone (often resulting in getting their number or securing a date). It can also informally mean taking someone home to have sex.
  • Example: “John is so confident he can pick up girls anywhere he goes.”
• 9. Chat someone up: To talk flirtatiously with someone using playful conversation.
  • Example: “Rick tried to chat up the waitress, but she wasn’t interested.”

2. Developing the Relationship: Sparks Flying

Once the initial conversation goes well, the dynamic transitions from casual flirting to a deeper mutual interest.

10. Turn out

• Meaning: To result or end up in a specific way.
• Example: “I liked Emily, but it turned out I wasn’t her type.”

11. Get along (with someone)

• Meaning: To have a smooth, friendly, and harmonious relationship with someone.
• Example: “Even though we divorced, I still get along with my ex-wife.”

12. Hit it off

• Meaning: To become instant, close friends or romantic matches immediately upon meeting.
• Example: “Sam and I hit it off right away because we both love football.”

13. End up

• Meaning: To reach a particular conclusion or result, often unexpectedly.
• Example: “We only planned to talk, but we ended up staying out until midnight.”

14. Make out

• Meaning: To kiss and touch someone passionately in a loving way.
• Example: “The teacher caught the young couple making out behind the school.”

15. Hang out

• Meaning: To casually spend time with someone (e.g., getting coffee, going to the beach).
• Warning: Avoid saying you want to “play with” an adult, as that carries an inappropriate sexual meaning. Always use “hang out” instead!
• Example: “Do you want to hang out together this weekend?”

3. Escalating or Ending: Dates, Hooks, and Committing

As a relationship matures, it either deepens into long-term stability, pauses at casual flings, or comes to an end.

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Real-World Context Example
16. Ask someone out	To formally invite someone to go on a romantic date.	“It takes a lot of courage to ask a girl out for the first time.”
17. Turn someone down	To refuse a romantic invitation or say “no” to an offer.	“Judy asked Mark out for dinner, but he turned her down.”
18. Take someone out	To go somewhere with a date and generously pay the bill for them.	“I really want to take Laura out to that new Italian restaurant.”
19. Fall for (someone)	To become deeply attracted to someone and fall in love with them.	“The second he saw her smile, he completely fell for her.”
20. Hook up	To engage in casual physical intimacy or sex without a commitment.	“I can’t believe Ally and Tom hooked up at summer camp.”
21. Get rid of (someone)	An informal phrase meaning to dump, remove, or completely cut someone out of your life.	“My ex cheated on me, so I got rid of her immediately.”
22. Go out with (someone)	To be in an ongoing, committed romantic and sexual relationship with a partner.	“I have been going out with the same girl for over two years.”
23. Settle down	To establish a quiet, stable life together (often involving moving in, marriage, or starting a family).	“I want to buy a house, get married, and settle down with Sarah.”

Speaking Time: Interactive Practice Quiz

Test your mastery by selecting the correct phrasal verb for each scenario:

1. You want your friend to meet a wonderful coworker on a blind date.➔ You want to set them up.
2. You invite someone to a movie, and you plan to pay for their ticket and snacks.➔ You want to take them out.
3. A conversation goes so well that you unexpectedly find yourself kissing at the end of the night.➔ You ended up making out.
4. You are finally ready to buy a house, get married, and live a quiet lifestyle with your partner.➔ You are ready to settle down.

Over to You!

Mastering these 23 phrases takes active practice. Pick four or five phrasal verbs from this list that describe your ideal dating scenario or relationship status.

Drop a comment below using them in a short paragraph, and our advanced grammar team will give you personalized feedback!