10 Winter Phrasal Verbs

10 Winter Phrasal Verbs

Winter has a habit of changing not only the weather, but also the language we use. When temperatures drop and days get shorter, English fills up with cosy, practical phrasal verbs connected to cold weather, staying indoors, and keeping warm. In this lesson, you will learn 10 winter phrasal verbs, each explained simply and illustrated with natural example sentences you can use in everyday English — especially useful for B1–B2 learners and Cambridge exam candidates.

Bundle up

Meaning: to put on a lot of warm clothes.

• It’s freezing outside — you’d better bundle up.
• The children were bundled up in scarves, gloves, and thick coats.

Cuddle up

Meaning: to sit or lie very close to someone, usually for warmth or comfort.

• Simon and his girlfriend cuddled up under a thick blanket.
• She cuddled up next to the fire with a hot drink.

Freeze over

Meaning: to become completely covered with ice.

• The river usually freezes over in January.
• The lake froze over, so people went skating.

Be snowed in / snowed up

Meaning: to be unable to leave a place because of heavy snow.

• The village was snowed in for several days.
• All the roads are snowed up, so we’ll have to stay at home.

Snuggle up

Meaning: to move closer to someone or something to keep warm (often more gentle or affectionate than cuddle up).

• The children snuggled up on the sofa with a blanket.
• She snuggled up to her dog during the storm.

Stay in

Meaning: to remain at home instead of going out.

• It’s cold and wet — I think I’ll stay in tonight.
• We stayed in all weekend because of the snow.

Turn on

Meaning: to start a machine or device so that it works.

• Could you turn on the heating? It’s chilly in here.
• He turned on the radiator as soon as he got home.

Turn up

Meaning: to increase the level or strength of something (here: heat).

• Let’s turn up the heating — it’s getting colder.
• She asked him to turn it up a little.

Warm up

Meaning: to make something warmer or to become warmer.

• I’ll warm up some soup for you.
• The room will warm up soon once the heating’s on.

Wrap up warm

Meaning: to dress in warm clothes to protect yourself from the cold.

• Wrap up warm — it’s below zero outside.
• She wrapped the children up warm before walking to school.

Many winter phrasal verbs are about comfort, routine, and survival, not drama — exactly the kind of everyday language examiners and native speakers love. Learn them in context, not as isolated items, and they’ll stick like snow on a woollen coat.

Do the quiz to perfect your knowledge:

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