take up a hobby

Meaning

This phrase means to start a new activity or interest, usually for pleasure or leisure. It implies that you are beginning something new that you plan to do regularly in your free time. It is a very common phrasal verb used in everyday conversations about lifestyle and free time.

Examples

• I decided to take up a hobby during the winter lockdown, so I chose painting.

  I decided to take up a hobby during the winter lockdown, so I chose painting.

• She wants to take up a hobby that gets her outdoors more often.

  She wants to take up a hobby that gets her outdoors more often.

• If you are feeling stressed, you should take up a hobby like gardening.

  If you are feeling stressed, you should take up a hobby like gardening.

• He recently took up a hobby of building model airplanes.

  He recently took up a hobby of building model airplanes.

• It is never too late to take up a hobby and learn something new.

  It is never too late to take up a hobby and learn something new.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to start up a hobby like photography.

  ✓ I want to take up a hobby like photography.

  While 'start' is acceptable, 'start up' usually refers to launching a business. The natural phrasal verb for leisure interests is 'take up'.

• ✗ She took on a hobby of playing the guitar.

  ✓ She took up a hobby of playing the guitar.

  'Take on' means to accept a difficult responsibility or extra work. To start a recreational activity, use 'take up'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Now that he has retired, he has plenty of time to ___.

  💡 To start a new leisure activity.

  Show answer

  take up a hobby

• I highly recommend that you ___ like cooking to relieve daily stress.

  💡 The phrasal verb phrase for starting a recreational activity.

  Show answer

  take up a hobby