Meaning trap
mix up
combine things
To put different things together so they are mixed or combined.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To put different things together so they are mixed or combined.
Another meaning of 'mix up' is 'confuse two things'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Mix up the ingredients before you pour them into the pan.daily life
- When I cook, I like to mix up different spices to create new flavors.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: mix up something / mix something up
WrongMix up well the batter.
RightMix the batter up well. / Mix up the batter well.
Keep the adverb at the end: 'mix it up well'.
Patternmix up something / mix something up
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Mix up' is the plain everyday verb; 'amalgamate' is absurdly formal in the kitchen.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
mix up + ingredientsthe battera drinksome cementthe paint
Don't confuse it
'Mix up' here is about physically combining things, not confusing them.
Related
- mix up (confuse two things) — Another meaning of 'mix up' is 'confuse two things'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.