shoot up
/ʃuːt ʌp/
Meaning
This phrasal verb means to grow, rise, or increase very rapidly and suddenly. In daily life, it is most commonly used to describe prices going up, temperatures rising, or children growing taller in a short period. It has a very visual, dramatic connotation of fast upward movement.
Examples
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Have you seen the price of gas lately? It's really shot up.
Have you seen the price of gas lately? It's really shot up.
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My nephew has shot up so much since last summer; he's taller than me now!
My nephew has shot up so much since last summer; he's taller than me now!
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As soon as the sun came out, the temperature shot up by ten degrees.
As soon as the sun came out, the temperature shot up by ten degrees.
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Rent in this neighborhood is shooting up because of the new subway line.
Rent in this neighborhood is shooting up because of the new subway line.
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The company's stock shot up after they announced the new product.
The company's stock shot up after they announced the new product.
Common Mistakes
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✗ The grocery prices have shooted up this month.
✓ The grocery prices have shot up this month.
'Shoot' is an irregular verb. The past tense and past participle form is 'shot', not 'shooted'.
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✗ The plants in my garden are shooting up very slowly.
✓ The plants in my garden are growing very slowly.
'Shoot up' implies sudden, rapid, or dramatic growth. If the growth is slow and gradual, use 'grow' or 'increase' instead.
Related Expressions
Practice
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I can't believe how much your son has ___ since I last saw him!
💡 Use the past participle form to describe a child's rapid growth.
Show answer
shot up
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Every winter, heating costs tend to ___ because of the freezing weather.
💡 Use the base form of the phrasal verb to describe prices rising quickly.
Show answer
shoot up