# get up to

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/get-up-to
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to do something, especially something secret or slightly bad that you should not be doing.

For teachers: to be involved in or busy with a particular activity, often with an implication of mischief, secrecy, or minor misconduct.

## Examples

- What did you get up to last weekend?
- The children are very quiet, which usually means they are getting up to no good.
- While the manager was away on business, the junior staff got up to all sorts of antics that would never have been permitted under his supervision.

## Pitfalls

- Not "What did you get up to it?" but "What did you get up to?" — the phrase is often used intransitively at the end of a question, so do not add an extra 'it' as an object.

## Usage notes

- often used in questions about free time or to describe children's behavior.
- Teaching tip: highlight the common collocation 'get up to no good' as it perfectly captures the slightly mischievous nuance of this phrasal verb.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.