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ring up

A2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To call someone on the phone, or for a cashier to add up what you are buying.

Literal meaning: To ring (a bell/phone) upward — historically the act of lifting a receiver and making the phone ring.

Meanings

1 A2 informal

To telephone someone. (chiefly British)

"I'll ring you up as soon as I get back to the hotel."

"Ring me up when you get there."

— General idiomatic British usage, widely attested in mid-20th century British literature and film
Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To enter the price of items into a cash register; to process a sale.

"The cashier rang up my groceries quickly and I paid by card."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

To accumulate or record a total amount, especially of sales, costs, or debt.

"The company rang up record profits in the final quarter of the year."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Sense 1 (phone) is primarily British English; Americans say 'call'. Sense 2 (cash register) is used in both British and American English. Sense 2 comes from the literal ringing sound old cash registers made.

Commonly used with

later tomorrow the office a friend the total the sale

Forms

Base
ring up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rings up
he/she/it
Past simple
rang up
yesterday
Past participle
rung up
have + pp
-ing form
ringing up
continuous

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