# hit up

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hit-up
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to contact someone

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

to get in touch with someone, usually to ask for something or to make a plan.

For teachers: to contact or communicate with a person, typically with a specific intent or request.

- Hit me up later if you want to go to the cinema tonight.
- I told him to hit me up once he had the final figures so we could finalize the contract.

Usage: Transitive; the object often sits between 'hit' and 'up' when it is a pronoun.

### 2. to visit a place

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

to go to a place, like a shop, restaurant, or gym.

For teachers: to visit a specific location or establishment, often as part of a routine or social outing.

- We should hit up that new pizza place on Friday night.
- After the conference, the team decided to hit up a local jazz club to unwind before heading back to the hotel.

### 3. to start an activity

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

to begin doing something or to focus on a task.

For teachers: to embark upon or devote oneself to a particular activity or task.

- I need to hit up the books if I want to pass this exam.
- Before we head out, I really need to hit up the gym for a quick session to stay on track with my training.

### 4. to ask for money

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

to ask someone for money or a favour.

For teachers: to request or demand money, a loan, or a significant favour from someone.

- He’s always hitting me up for five dollars every time I see him.
- The charity representatives were hitting up commuters for donations outside the station during the morning rush hour.

Usage: Often takes the preposition 'for' followed by the requested item.

### 5. rugby move

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a move in rugby where a player runs straight into the defenders.

For teachers: a tactical maneuver in rugby league where a player receives the ball and runs directly into the opposition's defensive line.

- The forward made a powerful hit up to gain some ground for his team.
- The coach emphasized the importance of a strong hit up to tire out the opposition's front line during the first half.

## Examples

- Hit me up if you want to grab coffee later.
- I'm going to hit up my brother for a loan so I can fix my car this week.
- While the marketing team decided to hit up several influencers for a partnership, the legal department remained cautious about the potential brand risks involved.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: Explain that while 'hit up' often implies asking for something (like money), in modern digital contexts it is frequently used as a synonym for 'text me' or 'call me'.

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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.