gas up

USAGE SUMMARY

"gas up" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It means "to fill up a car's tank with gasoline." For example, "I'm going to gas up the car before we take a road trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

So they couldn't gas up their tanks and trucks.

The Guardian

Boaters can gas up, and boat rentals are available.

The New York Times

Texans, like most Americans, like to gas up and go.

The New York Times

In 2010 the country produced 22.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, up from 18.9 trillion cubic feet in 2005.

The Economist

Shale beds now produce a quarter of the country's natural gas, up from only 1% in 2000.

The Economist

Cataviña is a good place to gas up and eat before the three-hour drive to Guerrero Negro.

The New York Times - Travel

Instead of spending their spare dollars on a game, they're saving it to gas up on the ride home".

The New York Times

But wouldn't they have heard the news when they stopped to gas up and get something eat?

The New York Times

And you move the dispensing machine to the front of the counter and give people a prepaid swipe card so they can just gas up and go".

The New Yorker

That means $2.30 a gallon of gasoline equivalent compared with $3.90 a gallon for regular petrol.Ah, but where can you gas up?

The Economist

When you do need to gas up, Ford's capless filler is one of those small delights that makes life a little easier.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, remember that "gas up" is generally used in informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using "refuel" or "fill the tank".

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "gas up". For example, instead of saying "I will gassed up the car", say "I will gas up the car" or "I will get gas for the car".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gas up" functions as an intransitive phrasal verb. It describes the action of replenishing fuel in a vehicle, typically with gasoline. Ludwig examples demonstrate its usage in various contexts, mostly relating to travel and transportation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

14%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gas up" is a common phrasal verb meaning to fill a vehicle with fuel. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While widely used, it's generally considered informal, with more formal alternatives like "refuel" or "fill the tank" available for professional or academic contexts. Ludwig's examples from sources such as The New York Times and The Economist highlight its prevalence in news and media. It is important to be mindful to use proper tense. When writing, remember that you can "gas up" at a gas station.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fill up the tank

Emphasizes the action of making the tank full.

refuel the vehicle

A more formal way of saying the same thing.

fill with gasoline

Specifies the type of fuel being used.

get gas

A shortened, more casual version.

top off the tank

Suggests adding just enough fuel to reach full capacity.

put gas in the car

More descriptive and less idiomatic.

fuel the car

A broader term that can refer to any type of fuel.

get petrol

Uses the British English term for gasoline.

replenish the fuel

Highlights the act of restoring fuel levels.

service the vehicle with gas

Emphasizes the act of providing a service.

FAQs

What does it mean to "gas up" a car?

To "gas up" a car means to fill its fuel tank with gasoline or other fuel. It's a common idiom for refueling a vehicle.

Is it correct to say "gas up" in formal writing?

While "gas up" is widely understood, it's generally considered informal. In formal writing, alternatives like "refuel the vehicle" or "fill the tank" are more appropriate.

What's the difference between "gas up" and "fill up"?

"Gas up" specifically refers to adding fuel to a vehicle. "Fill up" is more general and can refer to filling anything, not just a gas tank.

Can I use "gas up" for electric vehicles?

No, "gas up" is specific to vehicles that use gasoline or other liquid fuels. For electric vehicles, you would say "charge up".