pack up

British  

verb

1. to put (things) away in a proper or suitable place

2. informal to give up (an attempt) or stop doing (something)

   if you don't do your work better, you might as well pack up

3. (intr) (of an engine, machine, etc) to fail to operate; break down

4. engineering to use packing to adjust the height of a component or machine before it is secured in its correct position or alignment

---

Example Sentences

“You’ve got five minutes to pack up and get out of here. We want you across that county line tonight,” the mayor growled at him.

From Literature

“Before you go, I’ll pack up some chicken and peaches to take along.”

From Literature

Or when that social worker had escorted him to his empty apartment to pack up a small bag of things, upending his life as yours had been upended, as mine had too.

From Literature

“You know what, I’ve had enough of this. I’ve been trying to compromise, Mom, but you won’t even meet me halfway. At Christmas break, I’m going to pack up Clara and bring her back to Arizona with me. You’re always welcome to join us, but we’re not dragging this out anymore.”

From Literature

"And you just need to pack up and leave. I couldn't get it in my head and understand it at the time."

From BBC

Related Words

• abandon
• depart
• desert
• discharge
• displace
• expel
• leave
• move out
• pull out
• remove
• vacate
• withdraw