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Phrasal verbs are an important of both spoken and written English, so you need to remember the most common ones. I know that many people find them confusing, but they are very common in spoken English, so even if you don’t use them yourself, you need to understand them when people around you use them. Let’s talk about another separable Phrasal verb, this time I’ll talk about “set up”.

First of all, there’s the literal meaning, to “put something in an upright position.” Things like folding chairs and tables need to be set up before you can use them. “They set the table up”. They set up the table. They set it up”. It’s actually in a standing position now.

Things that are placed or built somewhere are also “set up.” For example, Police check points. Last week the police set a check point up in my neighborhood to catch drivers who had been drinking. They set it up on a different street every night. Drivers didn’t know where the police would set up a check point until they go there. I think is a good Idea. People shouldn’t drink and drive.

　　“Set up” can also have the meaning of “establish” I was happy to see that Bill Gates, who is apparently the riches man in the world, set up a charity organization to promote health and education for people all over the world. He set it up last year.
There’s another meaning of “set up” that is not so nice. If you set someone up, you have a plan to trick or deceive them, or if someone else sets you up, they have the same thing in mind for you. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Every year the biggest sporting event in the U.S is the Super Bowl. It’s the game that decides the championship of the American Football season. Everyone wants a ticket for to the game. A few years ago the police in the city where the game was played sent a letter to some people who committed minor crimes like illegal parking. The latter say they had won a contest, and the prize was two tickets to the game. All they had to do was com and pick them up. Everyone who came was arrested. One man said, “It’s not fair. The Police set me up.”
Don’t let anyone set you up. See you next time. Bye!