Phrasal verb
board up
Definition
phrasal verb. to cover a window or door with wooden boards to keep people out or protect a building.
phrasal verb. to seal or secure an opening or a building by fastening wooden planks across it; typically used for protection against weather or to prevent unauthorized entry.
Examples
“They board up the windows before the storm hits.”
“The shop has been closed for years, and the owner finally decided to board up the front to prevent vandalism.”
“As the hurricane approached the coast, residents worked tirelessly to board up their homes, hoping to minimize structural damage from the high winds.”
Examples
simple
“They board up the windows before the storm hits.”
contextual
“The shop has been closed for years, and the owner finally decided to board up the front to prevent vandalism.”
complex
“As the hurricane approached the coast, residents worked tirelessly to board up their homes, hoping to minimize structural damage from the high winds.”
Usage
usually used with windows, doors, or entire buildings as the object.
Teaching tip
this is a literal phrasal verb where 'up' implies completion or sealing; it is often seen in news reports about natural disasters or urban decay.
Pitfall
They boarded the house up.
They boarded up the house.
While technically separable, it is much more common to keep 'board up' together before the object in this context.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
board + up + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/board-up