Browse all

bell up

C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To call someone on the phone.

Literal meaning: To ring the bell (telephone) of someone.

Meanings

1 C1 informal

To telephone someone.

"Bell me up when you've finished work and we'll meet for a pint."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

British English slang. 'Bell' is used as a verb in British informal English to mean 'phone' (e.g., 'Give me a bell' = 'Call me'). 'Bell up' is a rarer variant. Most speakers would say 'ring up' or 'call up' instead.

Commonly used with

me him her them someone later

Forms

Base
bell up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bells up
he/she/it
Past simple
belled up
yesterday
Past participle
belled up
have + pp
-ing form
belling up
continuous

Understand "bell up" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "bell up" on Looplines