Phrasal verbs with act and add

Here is a list of some common phrasal verbs with explanations and example sentences.

Act up

To act is to behave badly or to function improperly.

Whenever we have guests, the children will start acting up.
I think I need to get this laptop repaired because it has started acting up again.

If a part of your body acts up, it develops some problems or become painful.

Act on

To act on something is to do something because you have been asked to do so.

I am acting on the advice of my advocate. (= My advocate has asked me to follow a certain course of action.)
You can’t blame them. They were merely acting on the instructions of their boss.

Act out

To act out is to express your feelings through your words or actions.

She was acting out her feelings of insecurity by aggressively guarding her privacy.

Add up

To add up is to calculate the total of several numbers.

I am not good at adding up in my head. I need a calculator for doing even small sums.
You might ignore them by don’t forget that all these small expenses will soon add up.

If a set of facts does not add up, there is something wrong with it.

You have been working with them for well over five years and you have earned them huge profits, but you haven’t received a raise in all these years. It just doesn’t add up.
She must be lying. Her explanation just doesn’t add up. (= It doesn’t make sense.)

Ask out

To ask somebody out is to invite them on a date.