mix up — combine things
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To put different things together so they are mixed or combined.
Say it like a native
Textbook Please amalgamate the ingredients thoroughly.
Native Just mix everything up.
'Mix up' is the plain everyday verb; 'amalgamate' is absurdly formal in the kitchen.
Pattern: mix up something / mix something up
In use
- 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
Common mistake
✗ Mix up well the batter.
✓ Mix the batter up well. / Mix up the batter well.
Keep the adverb at the end: 'mix it up well'.
Common collocations
mix up + ingredients— the batter, a drink, some cement, the 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.