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to mount up

to mount up

7 4.0
To get onto the back of an animal like a horse to ride it
  • phrasal verb
  • /maʊnt ʌp/
translation icon : montar
  • Then we mounted up, got the cattle, and started back to the camp.
  • Let's mount up
  • Mount up, men
  • Mount up! Let's go

And ARN helps GED to mount up.

Examples

  • Wallace mounts up and rides out with the Scottish nobles to meet the English contingent.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • When Patch said it was time to go, they mounted up and rode westward, coming upon the Missouri River in mid-afternoon.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • All right, come on, mount up.

  • Now let's mount up and get it done!

  • And then, like the Duke, I mount up and I head out.

  • Sergeant, get the men ready to mount up.

  • When done, they mounted up and rode away.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Why don't you find a horse and mount up, Lieutenant Graham?

  • The posse quickly mounts up.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • After being introduced to our horses, we mount up and begin to ride.

Synonyms

to hop on
vsto mount up
  • Informal
53 2.7

To get onto something like a horse, bike, or bus quickly and lightly

is neutral about speed, describing ordinary mounting for riding
to mount
vsto mount up
49 3.0

To get on an animal or bike to ride

is identical in meaning but includes an extra particle
to get on
vsto mount up
37 1.0

Climb onto a horse or bike

is focused on mounting animals for riding rather than any surface
to climb on
vsto mount up
19 2.0

To get up onto the back or top of something, especially an animal

is mainly about getting onto an animal to ride it
to jump on
vsto mount up
13 1.8

To get quickly onto the back of something like a horse or bike

is the ordinary act of mounting without sudden force
to bestride
vsto mount up
1 8.8

To sit or stand with a leg on each side of something like a horse

is about mounting to sit on the back, not necessarily straddling

Antonyms

21 4.5

To get off a horse, bicycle, or vehicle

How Difficult

to hoist
79 4.7
to clamber
19 5.6
to climb on
19 2.0
to mount up
7 4.0
to get on
37 1.0

Surface Forms

mount up infinitive
mounted up past
mounted up past participle
mounting up present participle
mounts up third person singular

Morphology

mount + up

The meaning 'to get up onto the back of an animal' is directly and transparently composed from 'mount' (to get onto for riding) plus 'up' (movement to a higher position). This motion/position composition follows a common verb + particle pattern that a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand.

Etymology

Mount up comes from the simple action of climbing onto the back of an animal to ride; mount means 'get on' and up shows the upward movement, so the phrase means 'to get onto a horse or similar animal to ride'.