phone up
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To phone; to contact by telephone.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
‘I don’t believe it!’ cried Maxine, who had only phoned up in order to relieve her own boredom and have a good moan about Serena.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To order by telephone.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “phone up” mean?
To phone; to contact by telephone.
Is “phone up” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.