Meaning
- To physically move backwards.
- To support someone or something.
- To make a copy of data or files.
- To cause a delay or a traffic jam.
Today's Sentences
- Before you upgrade your phone, make sure to back up your photos.
- Now back up a little, give yourself more space.
- Writer's Note
01
Before you upgrade your phone, make sure to back up your photos.
Situation
Hey, I’m thinking about buying a new phone.
Just a heads-up.
Before you upgrade your phone, make sure to back up your photos.
Good point.
I’d totally cry if I lost my travel pics.
Trust me, I’ve learned that the hard way.
Twice.
02
Now back up a little, give yourself more space.
Situation
Okay, now just follow my lead.
Step to the right.
Like this?
Almost!
Now back up a little, give yourself more space.
Got it!
Wow, I didn’t think dancing involved this much spatial awareness.
Writer's Note
"Back up" is a phrasal verb that is transitive, intransitive, and can also be separable.
- Transitive - A transitive phrasal verb needs an object to complete its meaning. In the examples below ask yourself what is being "backed up". If you can answer, that’s your object.
Example 1: You need to back up your argument with solid evidence.
Example 2: I always back up my files during a big project.
Example 3: She refused to back up his story because it simply wasn’t true. - Intransitive - An intransitive phrasal verb doesn’t need an object. The meaning is complete on its own.
Example 1: The driver backed up slowly to avoid hitting the elderly pedestrian.
Example 2: When I saw the bear, I instinctively backed up a few steps.
Example 3: As the crowd grew aggressive, the security guards backed up toward the exit. - Separable - Some phrasal verbs are separable, meaning you can put the object in the middle.
Example 1: He slowly backed the car up into the driveway.
Example 2: Can you back that claim up with real data?
Example 3: Our coach has always backed his team up when things go wrong.
*Tip: But if the object is a pronoun, like "them" or "it", you must put it in the middle.
For example:❌ Incorrect:I’ll back up them.✅ Correct: I’ll back them up.
Related Words: Analyze, collapse, crumble, decompose, disassemble, disintegrate, divide, explain, fail, malfunction, partition, separate, simplify, stop working, unravel
