budge up

USAGE SUMMARY

"budge up" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used as an informal way to tell someone to move up or over to make room for someone else. For example, "Budge up, there's not enough room here for us all to sit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Informal Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"You'll have to budge up," Mum said.

The New Yorker

Move over Lily, or at least budge up a bit.

The Guardian - Music

Now, budge up, you're sitting on my flannel".

The Guardian - Opinion

If Europeans do not budge up, bodies like the IMF may simply lose credibility.

The Economist

So budge up, Booze & Fagz, you're not getting your Facebook page back any time soon.

Independent

All the pressure is for Europe to budge up and accept a reduction in its gross over-representation at the Fund.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Budging up a bit is also appreciated.

The Guardian - Opinion

Alternatively, in order to include Hauritz, Mike Hussey could open instead of Shane Watson, with Michael Clarke (a slight doubt with a stomach strain) and Marcus North budging up to make room for the likely return of Brad Haddin, who missed Edgbaston with a broken left ring finger.

The Guardian - Sport

Elsewhere in Asia, Taiwan's Taiex weighted index barely budged, up 0.1%, at 4,271.80; the Straits Times index in Singapore improved by 1,711.13; and the Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex index climbed 3.8% higher, to 9,026.72.

Forbes

From 1975 to 2012, American productivity grew 80.4%, but median family income in the period barely budged, up only 11.4%, from $45,788 in 1975 to $51,017 in 2012.

HuffPost

The regime refused to budge, rounded up its critics and annulled the results.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing dialogue, "budge up" can add character and authenticity, especially when representing casual or familiar interactions.

Common error

Avoid using "budge up" in professional or formal writing. Opt for more polite and descriptive alternatives like "move over" or "make room" to maintain a respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "budge up" functions as an imperative phrasal verb, used to directly request or instruct someone to move and create space. As confirmed by Ludwig, this is a common and acceptable usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Opinion

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

1%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "budge up" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to informally request someone to move and create space. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for casual settings. While "budge up" is prevalent in news and opinion pieces, more formal situations warrant alternatives like "move over" or "make room". To ensure clarity and appropriateness, consider the context and audience when choosing between "budge up" and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

move over

A direct synonym, commonly used and easily understood.

scoot over

Similar to "move over", but implies a quicker or smaller movement.

make room

Focuses on the act of creating space, rather than the movement itself.

slide over

Emphasizes a smooth, sliding motion to create space.

shuffle along

Suggests a more gradual and perhaps reluctant movement.

clear some space

Focuses on the result of the movement – creating an area.

shift your position

A more formal way of asking someone to move.

give way

Implies yielding space to someone, often in a crowded environment.

rearrange yourselves

Suggests a need for multiple people to adjust their positions.

adjust your seating

A polite and formal instruction to move slightly.

FAQs

What does "budge up" mean?

"Budge up" means to move slightly to make room for someone else, typically when sitting. It's an informal way of asking someone to move over.

When is it appropriate to use "budge up"?

It's appropriate to use "budge up" in casual settings, such as with friends, family, or when you're in a crowded place and need someone to move slightly to accommodate you.

What are some alternatives to "budge up"?

You can use alternatives like "move over", "scoot over", or "make room" depending on the context.

Is "budge up" considered rude?

While generally not considered rude, "budge up" is informal. In more formal situations, it's better to use a more polite phrase like "Could you please move over a little?"