Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding the Phrasal Verb 'Dress Up'

"To dress up is to cloak oneself in the essence of possibility, revealing not just appearances but inner truths and aspirations."

📖 Definition

To dress up means to wear formal or elaborate clothing for special occasions, or to disguise oneself for entertainment or play.

Examples in context

Children love to dress up as their favorite superheroes and characters.
During the festival, the whole city seemed to dress up in colors and lights.
She decided to dress up for the interview to make a good impression.

📖 Definition

To dress up means to wear formal or elaborate clothing for special occasions, or to disguise oneself for entertainment or play.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

You can insert a pronoun between 'dress' and 'up'.

Neutral

Suitable for both casual and formal contexts depending on usage.

Transitive

Yes

It can take a direct object, meaning something can be dressed up.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	dress up	They dress up for the annual gala every year.
Past Simple	dressed up	We dressed up as pirates for the costume party.
Present Continuous	dressing up	She is dressing up the children for Halloween.
Present Perfect	have dressed up	I have dressed up for every event this month.

💡 When to Use

Formal events

Use when you are required to wear fancy or formal attire, like weddings or galas.

Example: "She dressed up elegantly for the charity ball."

Costume parties

When attending an event where disguises or themed outfits are expected.

Example: "He dressed up as his favorite superhero for the party."

Business occasions

In professional settings where formal attire could create a positive impression.

Example: "You should dress up for the important client meeting."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Using 'dress up' instead of 'dress'

❌ Wrong: He needs to dress up every day for work.

✅ Correct: He needs to dress every day for work.

💡 Tip: Use 'dress' when formal wear isn't required.

Using incorrect tense

❌ Wrong: She is dressing up yesterday for the concert.

✅ Correct: She dressed up yesterday for the concert.

💡 Tip: Ensure tense matches the time frame.

Misplacing 'up' in separable usage

❌ Wrong: He up dressed the doll for the game.

✅ Correct: He dressed the doll up for the game.

💡 Tip: Place 'up' after 'dress' for clarity.

Practice

DRESS UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

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

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

Children love to dress up as their favorite superheroes and characters.
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2
Listen to example

During the festival, the whole city seemed to dress up in colors and lights.
TV The Magic Box
3
Listen to example

She decided to dress up for the interview to make a good impression.
TV The Magic Box

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

costume attire

Antonyms

undress

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"For the wedding, she decided to ___ up in her finest gown."

dress

dress up

put

wear

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Dress Up

What is the origin of dress up?

The phrasal verb 'dress up' originated in the 16th century, combining the verb 'dress' with 'up' to imply a heightened state of appearance.

Can dress up be used in formal and informal contexts?

Yes, 'dress up' can be used both formally and informally. In formal contexts, it refers to wearing elegant clothes; in informal, it may involve costumes.

What is the difference between dress up and costume?

While 'dress up' can imply formal or playful attire, 'costume' specifically refers to outfits for performances or disguise, often less formal.

Browse All TV The Magic Box Phrasal Verbs

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

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

DRESS UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Dress Up

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega