When we talk about clothes in English, we often use the verb “wear”. But did you know that English has many other useful verbs to describe what we do with our clothes?
In this lesson I’ll take a closer look at the most common clothing-related verbs and learn how to use them correctly in everyday conversations.
1. Put on
Meaning:
To put clothes on your body
Use:
We use put on when we start wearing a piece of clothing.
Examples:
- Put on your jacket, it's cold outside.
- I put on my shoes before I left the house.
- She is putting on a beautiful dress.
2. Zip up
Meaning:
Meaning:
To close something using a zipper.
Use:
Use:
We use zip up with jackets, coats, trousers, boots, bags, etc.
Examples:
Examples:
- Zip up your jacket. It's very cold.
- He zipped up his coat before going outside.
- Can you help me zip up my dress?
3. Take off
Meaning:
Meaning:
To remove clothes, shoes, or other things that you are wearing.
Use:
Use:
We use take off when we stop wearing something.
Examples:
4. Button up
Meaning:
Examples:
- Please take off your shoes.
- I took off my jacket when I got home.
- She took off her wet clothes.
4. Button up
Meaning:
To close something with buttons.
Use:
Use:
We use button up with shirts, coats, jackets, cardigans, etc.
Examples:
Examples:
- Button up your coat. It's freezing outside.
- He buttoned up his shirt.
- She forgot to button up her jacket.
5. Try on
Meaning:
Try on means to put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits you or looks good on you.
Use:
We usually use try on when we are shopping for clothes.
Examples:
- Can I try on this dress?
- I want to try on these jeans.
- She tried on three jackets before choosing one.
- He tried the shirt on, but it was too small.
- These shoes look nice. Can I try them on?
6. Slip on
Meaning:
Slip on means to put on something quickly and easily, without spending much time fastening it.
Use:
We especially use it for shoes, slippers, sandals, and some loose clothing.
Use slip on when something is easy to put on.
Examples:
- I slipped on my shoes and ran out of the house.
- She slipped on her sandals and went to the beach.
- Just slip on your jacket and let's go.
- He slipped his shoes on and left.
- These shoes are great because you can slip them on easily.
Just slip it on. = Put it on quickly and easily.
7.Dress up
Meaning:
Dress up means to wear nicer, more formal, or special clothes than you normally wear.It can also mean wearing costumes, especially for parties or celebrations.
Use:
We use dress up when talking about:
weddings,parties,formal events,special occasions,costumes
Dress up means to wear nicer, more formal, or special clothes than you normally wear.It can also mean wearing costumes, especially for parties or celebrations.
Use:
We use dress up when talking about:
weddings,parties,formal events,special occasions,costumes
Examples:
- We need to dress up for the wedding.
- She dressed up for her birthday party.
- He always dresses up for important meetings.
- They dressed up as superheroes for Halloween.
- I don't usually dress up, but I love getting dressed up for parties.
8. Tie up
Meaning:
Tie up means to fasten something by tying it with a knot.
Use:
Meaning:
Tie up means to fasten something by tying it with a knot.
Use:
With clothes, we commonly use it for:
shoelaces, ties, scarves, ribbons, belts or straps
shoelaces, ties, scarves, ribbons, belts or straps
Examples:
- Tie up your shoelaces before you start running.
- I need to tie up my shoes.
- She tied up her scarf because it was windy.
- He tied his shoelaces up and went for a walk.
- Can you help me tie up the back of this dress?
With shoelaces, native speakers very often simply say:
- Tie your shoelaces!
rather than
Tie up your shoelaces!
Tie up your shoelaces!
Both can be understood, but tie your
shoelaces is more natural in everyday English.
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