1 A2 neutral
To attach a piece of paper, poster, or notice to a wall or board using tacks or pins
"She tacked up the new class schedule on the notice board."
separable
tack up
B2 neutral separable transitive
To attach something to a wall or board using tacks or pins; also, to put a saddle and bridle on a horse
In plain English
Fix something to a wall with small nails; or get a horse ready to ride
What does "tack up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
(Equestrian) To put the saddle, bridle, and other equipment onto a horse in preparation for riding
"It took her fifteen minutes to tack up her horse before the morning lesson."
separable
3 C1 neutral
(Sailing) To steer a sailing boat on a zigzag course into the wind through a series of tacks
"They tacked up the estuary against a stiff headwind for over an hour."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To push tacks upward into a surface to hold something up — transparent.
Actually means
Fix something to a wall with small nails; or get a horse ready to ride
Usage tip
The wall/display sense is very common in everyday contexts — offices, classrooms, bedrooms. The equestrian sense ('tack up a horse') is specific to horse-riding communities but is well-established and standard within that context.
Words that pair with "tack up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
poster notice horse sign photo list
How to conjugate "tack up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tack up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tacks up
he/she/it
Past simple
tacked up
yesterday
Past participle
tacked up
have + pp
-ing form
tacking up
continuous
Hear "tack up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "tack up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.