DRIVE UP

Tiny House

📖 Definition

To increase the value, cost, or level of something. Often used in contexts involving prices, emotions, or tensions, implying an upward movement.

Examples in context

📖 Definition

To increase the value, cost, or level of something. Often used in contexts involving prices, emotions, or tensions, implying an upward movement.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable
No
The verb 'drive up' is not separable, meaning you cannot split the verb and preposition.
Register
Neutral
It is suitable in both formal and informal contexts.
Transitive
Yes
The phrasal verb requires a direct object to complete its meaning.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense Form Example
Present Simple drive up High demand can drive up prices.
Past Simple drove up Economic factors drove up the housing prices last year.
Present Continuous driving up Speculation is driving up the stock prices today.
Present Perfect have driven up Inflation has driven up the cost of groceries recently.

💡 When to Use

Increasing prices or values
Use when explaining how prices or values have been increased due to specific conditions or demand.
Example: "The holiday season drove up the demand for flights."
Escalating tensions or emotions
Use to indicate situations where emotions or tensions are raised due to specific factors or actions.
Example: "The argument drove up tension among the team members."
Boosting something
Use when describing how an action boosts the attention, visibility, or level of something.
Example: "The advertisement drove up interest in the new product."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Incorrect usage of tense
❌ Wrong: The news drive up the prices.
✅ Correct: The news drove up the prices.
💡 Tip: Ensure verb and subject match in tense.
Incorrect object placement
❌ Wrong: Drive up quickly costs.
✅ Correct: Drive up costs quickly.
💡 Tip: Place objects directly after 'drive up'.
Confusion with separable verbs
❌ Wrong: Drive costs up.
✅ Correct: Drive up costs.
💡 Tip: 'Drive up' is not separable, keep them together.
Practice

DRIVE UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

  1. Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
  2. Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
  3. Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

inflate escalate

Antonyms

reduce

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"The announcement of the new product quickly ___ market interest."

driving
drive up
driver
drives

"When greed drives up the cost of living, humanity must drive up compassion to restore balance and harmony within society."

In Context

In the mid-1800s, the California Gold Rush drove thousands to the western United States, seeking fortune and prosperity. Among these prospectors was Samuel Brannan, an enterprising man who realized gold was not the only route to wealth. He quickly drove up prices of mining supplies, turning a significant profit by selling goods at exorbitant rates to eager miners. As Brannan's wealth grew, so did the demand for goods, which further drove up costs in the region. Locals and miners alike found themselves grappling with rising prices for basic necessities. While some miners struck it rich, many were unable to sustain the expense driven up by resourceful traders like Brannan. In the end, Brannan invested his riches into land and other ventures but faced financial ruin later in life. His story became a testament to how unchecked ambition could drive up fortunes, but also lead to downfall. The tale of Samuel Brannan remains a historical example of how economic dynamics and opportunistic strategies can drastically drive up markets and fortunes, affecting both communities and individual lives.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Drive Up

What is the origin of drive up?

+
The phrase 'drive up' comes from the literal idea of pushing or moving something upwards, extending to abstract concepts like prices or emotions over time.

Can drive up be used in formal and informal contexts?

+
'Drive up' is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile for various settings where increase or escalation needs to be communicated.

What is the difference between drive up and inflate?

+
While both imply an increase, 'drive up' reflects active factors causing it, whereas 'inflate' may suggest an artificial or unsustainable rise.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Explore more phrasal verbs in our dictionary:

push upjack upbid upforce upramp up
Browse All Tiny House Phrasal Verbs
Tiny House Phrasal Verbs - WeeklyCross
Alessandra Nóbrega
About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey



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