fix up
B1Informal
Definition
Meaning
To repair, mend, or restore something; to arrange or organize something.
To arrange a meeting, date, or deal for someone; to decorate or refurbish a place; to provide or supply someone with something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core sense involves making something functional or acceptable again. The extended sense often implies proactive organization or provision for someone else. It can be used both transitively ('fix up the car') and intransitively ('Let's fix up for next week').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Both use the phrasal verb similarly. The sense of 'arranging a date' is common in both, though 'set up' is also frequently used.
Connotations
Both carry a casual, informal connotation. In American English, it can slightly emphasize a temporary or improvised solution ('We'll just fix it up for now').
Frequency
More common in American English, particularly in the 'arrange/organize' sense. In British English, 'sort out' or 'arrange' might be preferred for the organizational meaning.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Someone fixes up somethingSomeone fixes something upSomeone fixes someone up (with something)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fix someone up with a blind date”
- “Fix up and look sharp (dated/colloquial)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used informally to mean 'arrange a meeting' or 'resolve a problem' (e.g., 'We need to fix up a call with the client').
Academic
Rare. Would only appear in informal speech between academics (e.g., 'Let's fix up a time to discuss the paper').
Everyday
Very common for domestic repairs, social arrangements, and minor improvements (e.g., 'I need to fix up my bike', 'Can you fix me up with a ticket?').
Technical
Not typically used in formal technical contexts; 'repair', 'calibrate', or 'reconfigure' would be preferred.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I'll try to fix up the shed this weekend.
- She fixed me up with a spare room for the night.
- We should fix up a time to have a proper chat.
American English
- He's fixing up his old Mustang in the garage.
- My friend fixed me up with a great dentist.
- Can you fix up the guest room before Mom arrives?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My dad can fix up my bicycle.
- We will fix up the room for you.
- I need to fix up a meeting with my manager next week.
- They are fixing up their old house to sell it.
- After the storm, it took weeks to fix up all the damage to the garden.
- He fixed me up with a fantastic internship at his company.
- The government's plan is merely an attempt to fix up a system that is fundamentally flawed.
- She has a knack for fixing up unlikely people and making them into a successful team.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a broken chair: you FIX it, then lift it UP to see if it's stable. FIX (make right) + UP (complete the action).
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPROVEMENT IS UPWARD MOTION (making something better is 'fixing it up'), ORGANIZATION IS CONSTRUCTION (arranging something is 'fixing it up').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'fix' alone, which often translates as 'чинить'. 'Fix up' implies a process towards completion or arrangement, not just repair. Avoid translating 'fix up a meeting' as 'чинить встречу' - use 'договориться о встрече' or 'организовать встречу'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in overly formal writing.
- Confusing 'fix up' with 'fix' (e.g., 'I'll fix up the computer' vs. 'I'll fix the computer' – the former implies a more thorough process).
- Incorrect word order: 'I'll fix up it' (should be 'I'll fix it up').
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'We need to fix up the backyard before the party,' what is the most likely meaning of 'fix up'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily informal. Use 'arrange', 'organize', 'repair', or 'renovate' in formal writing.
'Fix' focuses on repairing a specific problem. 'Fix up' implies a more thorough process, often involving multiple tasks, or it means to arrange/organize something for someone.
Yes, especially in the pattern 'fix someone up with something' (e.g., 'He fixed me up with a loan', 'She fixed us up with tickets').
No. With pronoun objects, the correct order is 'fix it up'. 'Fix up it' is incorrect.
Explore