bundle up
B1Informal, Everyday
Definition
Meaning
To dress warmly in multiple layers of clothing for protection against cold weather.
To gather or wrap something together in a compact form; figuratively, to finish or conclude something quickly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a phrasal verb (verb + particle). Often followed by a reflexive pronoun (yourself) or an object (the children). The figurative use (e.g., bundle up a deal) is less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. Both use 'bundle up' for dressing warmly. The figurative use is slightly more prevalent in American business contexts.
Connotations
Suggests a cozy, informal preparation for cold, often with parental care. The action implies a certain hurriedness or thoroughness.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects, with a seasonal peak in autumn and winter.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + bundle up + (reflexive/object)[Subject] + bundle + [Object] + upBundle up!Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bundle up or freeze!”
- “All bundled up with nowhere to go.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'Let's bundle up these proposals and send them to the client.'
Academic
Rare. May appear in historical/social texts describing customs.
Everyday
Very common: 'You need to bundle up before you go outside; it's snowing.'
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Mum told us to bundle up well before our walk on the moor.
- I'll just bundle up the old newspapers for recycling.
American English
- Make sure to bundle up the kids before they go sledding.
- We can bundle up the internet and cable service for a better price.
adverb
British English
- Not a standard adverbial form for this phrase.
American English
- Not a standard adverbial form for this phrase.
adjective
British English
- The bundled-up travellers waited for the delayed train.
- She looked very bundled-up in her new scarf and hat.
American English
- The bundled-up crowd cheered at the football game.
- He gave a bundled-up package to the postal worker.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It's cold. Bundle up!
- The baby is bundled up in a blanket.
- You should bundle up before going outside in the snow.
- She bundled up her clothes and put them in the suitcase.
- Despite bundling up in a heavy coat and scarf, the biting wind chilled her to the bone.
- The lawyer advised us to bundle up the property sale with the furniture inventory.
- The humanitarian aid was bundled up into portable kits for easy distribution in the disaster zone.
- He tends to bundle up his complex emotions, presenting a façade of detached calm.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine tying a BUNDLE of warm clothes around your body to keep UP your body temperature.
Conceptual Metaphor
WARMTH IS A BUNDLE (clothing is a package that contains and generates warmth).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'связывать вверх'.
- Avoid confusing with 'укутываться' which is more specific to wrapping in a blanket or shawl. 'Bundle up' is broader, involving multiple clothing items.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I bundled up my jacket.' (You bundle up YOURSELF *in* a jacket.)
- Incorrect: 'She bundles up warm.' (Use an adverb: 'She bundles up warmly' or adjective 'She bundles up warm' is colloquially accepted in AmE).
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is 'bundle up' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can say 'Bundle up the children' or 'Bundle the children up'. With pronouns, you must separate: 'Bundle them up'.
Its primary meaning relates to cold weather. Using it in summer would be ironic or figurative (e.g., bundling up against air conditioning).
'Wrap up' often implies a single outer layer (like a scarf or shawl). 'Bundle up' strongly implies multiple layers of clothing (coat, hat, gloves, scarf). 'Wrap up' is also common for concluding tasks.
Yes, the past participle is frequently used as a descriptive adjective before a noun (a bundled-up toddler) or after a linking verb (She got all bundled up).