Quick English - Phrasal Verbs for Dating

With Valentine’s Day (February 14) right around the corner, there is no better time to prepare for love in English than by learning some dating phrasal verbs.

The oldest-known written Valentine message is a poem, found in the British Library in London. It was written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.  Nowadays, it’s much easier to have someone write down romantic thoughts for you! This started in the 1840s, when the first mass-produced valentine cards were created.

But even if you buy your valentine messages at the local greeting card shop, you can still learn some useful and fun phrases in English. You never know when they’ll come in handy!

Here is a list of phrasal verbs that you would use in romantic (or no longer romantic!) situations.

Did we miss any? Let us know!

Chat up (UK) – to talk to someone in a flirtatious way to show you are attracted to them, and to make them interested in you.

Mike chatted Lucy up at the bar while she was ordering her drink.

Hit it off – to get along with someone very well

Lucy and Mike hit it off almost immediately when they met.

Ask out – to request that someone date someone else

“Are you asking me out?” Lucy said shyly. “I am,” said Mike with a laugh.

Get together – to meet up and spend time together, or to start a relationship.

“Let’s get together for coffee,” Mike suggested to Lucy.

“Did you know that Lucy and Mike got together?” Margarita asked Francoise. “Are they dating now?” Francoise asked.

Eat out – to eat away from home, at a restaurant or other food establishment.

I don’t want to cook on Valentine’s Day; let’s eat out.

Go out with – to enter into a romantic relationship

Cherise wondered if Lucy and Mike would start going out soon, since they were spending so much time together.

Fall for – to become very romantically interested in someone

“I fell for him,” Lucy said, “because of how funny and smart he was.”

Make out – to kiss someone passionately, for an extended amount of time

Bhupinder and Brad were making out at the party. Everyone saw them!

Break up – to end a relationship

They decided to break up after a big argument.

Make up – to reconcile after an argument or fight

Once Lucy stopped being angry at Mike for ruining her sweater, they made up.

Some cities make for the best date spots. You can go out for a romantic meal and then make out by the Love statue at Love Park in Philadelphia.

Or, if you’re more interested in the history of Valentine’s Day, in Dublin you can take a quiet moment to visit the shrine to St. Valentine at the Whitefriar Street Church.

What are your favorite places to go out on a date?