English Reference

Phrasal verb

fry up

Definition

phrasal verb. to cook a meal by frying several different foods together in a pan, usually for breakfast.

phrasal verb. to prepare a meal by frying various ingredients, most commonly associated with the 'full English' breakfast. It can function transitively with the food as the object or intransitively to describe the act of cooking.

Examples

“Let's fry up some sausages for breakfast.”

“Every Saturday morning, the smell of bacon fills the house when my dad decides to fry up a big meal for the whole family.”

“While the guests slept, the chef began to fry up an array of local delicacies, ensuring the traditional breakfast was served exactly at dawn.”

Examples

simple

“Let's fry up some sausages for breakfast.”

contextual

“Every Saturday morning, the smell of bacon fills the house when my dad decides to fry up a big meal for the whole family.”

complex

“While the guests slept, the chef began to fry up an array of local delicacies, ensuring the traditional breakfast was served exactly at dawn.”

Usage

Commonly used in British English and often refers to making a 'full English' breakfast.

Teaching tip

Introduce the noun form 'a fry-up' alongside the verb, as it is a staple of British culinary culture.

Pitfall

I am going to fry up these chips in the deep fat fryer.

I am going to deep-fry these chips.

'Fry up' usually implies pan-frying a variety of items for a meal, not the technical process of deep-frying.

Phrasal verb

Particles

up

Separability

optional

Pattern

fry + up (+ object)

Synonyms

cookpan-frysizzleprepare

Antonyms

boilsteamgrill

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

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