AEE: Do Phrasal Verbs Wind You Up?

Summary

All Ears English Podcast Episode Summary

Episode Title: AEE: Do Phrasal Verbs Wind You Up?
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Aubrey Carter
Release Date: November 1, 2025
Duration: ~17 minutes (not including ads and outro)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the notoriously tricky phrasal verb “wind up,” covering its five primary meanings in American English. Lindsay and Aubrey explore each usage with lively banter, relatable stories, and plenty of practical examples. Their conversation is tailored for intermediate to advanced English learners, focusing on connection, not perfection.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction to “Wind Up” and Episode Purpose

[02:53]

• Lindsay and Aubrey open with a personal anecdote about an unexpected football game outcome, using “wind up” in context.
  • Aubrey: “Yeah. It did not wind up like we thought it was going to.” (03:27)
• They set up the episode’s aim: unpacking the multiple meanings of “wind up,” a frequently confusing phrasal verb for ESL learners.

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2. The Five Core Meanings of “Wind Up”

1. To End Up in an (Often Unexpected) Situation

[04:27–05:38]

• Explained as very similar to “end up.”
• Example: “If you keep skipping classes, you’ll wind up failing the course.” (04:41)
• Past tense is “wound up,” not “winded up.”
  • Aubrey: “He wound up in Paris after taking the wrong train.” (05:09)
• Anecdotes about accidentally ending up somewhere unexpected.

2. To Conclude or Finish Something

[05:49–06:46]

• Used for meetings, events, or businesses.
  • “Let’s wind up the meeting. We’ve covered everything on the agenda.” (05:54)
• Lindsay connects it to business English:
  • “I’ve heard this phrase being used to… close down a company… to wind up the records for that company…" (06:05)
• Informal use for parties/events:
  • “By midnight, the party was winding up.” (06:35)

3. To Irritate or Annoy Someone (Colloquial, British English Influence)

[07:01–07:42]

• “She really knows how to wind up her little brother.” (07:15)
• Typically used when someone is intentionally provoking or teasing, especially common among siblings.

4. To Prepare or Activate Something by Winding (Literal Sense)

[07:42–08:25]

• Used for clocks, toys, etc.
  • “I need to wind up the old clock every week.” (08:06)
  • “He wound up the toy and let it go.” (08:15)
• Explains the physical action of turning or cranking to get something started.

5. To Cause Someone to Feel Anxious or Nervous

[08:31–09:02]

• Slightly different from being irritated—more about becoming tense or agitated.
  • “Don’t wind yourself up about things you can’t control.” (08:41)
  • “Don’t get wound up by what he says.” (08:54)
• Lindsay and Aubrey highlight it’s often used in a comforting or cautionary way, but with a note on being careful not to dismiss someone’s feelings.

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3. Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• Lindsay: “This phrasal verb is fascinating because it makes no sense between this one and the next one example here.” (06:46)
• Aubrey: “That is what’s really crazy about this phrasal verb—that its meanings seem so opposite.” (07:42)
• Lindsay: “So this is a challenging episode today, I have to say that. Don’t worry if you’re not getting all these meanings. Just aim to get one or two…” (12:36)
• Aubrey: “If phrasal verbs wind you up, you are not alone. They are frustrating. Especially when one phrasal verb can have so many different meanings.” (16:28)

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4. In-Depth Role Play: “Wind Up” in Natural Conversation

[10:56–14:18]
Lindsay and Aubrey perform a dialogue while playing a board game, incorporating all five meanings of “wind up”:

• Aubrey: “I can’t believe I wound up at the wrong cafe this morning.” (11:08)
• Lindsay: “Don’t get wound up about it.” (11:17)
• Aubrey: “My little brother won’t stop trying to wind me up about it.” (11:21)
• Lindsay: “Okay, we need to wind up this game so we can get ready for the party. Otherwise we’ll wind up being late.” (11:27)
• Aubrey: “I also need to wind up that old clock before we leave.” (11:36)
• They comment on the oddity and flexibility of the phrasal verb, noting that using all meanings in one conversation is uncommon but can be part of playful banter.
  • “Sometimes native speakers riff on each other and banter by actually coming up with different uses that mean something different.” (11:59)

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5. Cultural and Emotional Awareness Tips

[13:16–14:18]

• Use "don’t get wound up" carefully, as it may unintentionally dismiss someone’s feelings.
• Aubrey: “It is sort of giving someone the message that, like, they shouldn’t be feeling their feelings… so this is one to sort of be careful with, wouldn’t you say, Lindsay?” (13:31)
• Lindsay agrees, encouraging listeners to “tread lightly” with this phrasing.

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6. Recap and Takeaways

[16:17–16:54]

• Acknowledge the difficulty of multi-meaning phrasal verbs.
• Key message: It’s fine to only remember one or two definitions at first—expand as you get comfortable.
• Aubrey: “It does help now that you’re aware of all of these different meanings… you’re not going to make the mistake of assuming it’s that [just one meaning]…” (16:28)

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Useful Timestamps

• 03:02 – Personal story with “wind up” in context
• 04:27–07:42 – Breakdown: 5 meanings of “wind up”
• 10:56–14:18 – Full role play with explanatory breakdown
• 13:16 – Emotional nuance (be careful with “don’t get wound up”)
• 16:17 – Recap and encouragement

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Additional Resources Mentioned

• Laundry Series Episode: All Ears English 2487: “Laundry in English Part Three – Overwhelmed by Laundry? Make it a Connection Moment” (16:01). Discusses making everyday topics, like laundry, a connection point in conversation.
• Episode focus: Emphasizes playful learning and practical usage over rote memorization.

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Summary Takeaway

“Wind up” is a multi-faceted, sometimes baffling phrasal verb. Rather than memorizing all uses at once, listeners are encouraged to observe “wind up” in context, try using one or two senses, and gradually build up understanding through authentic conversation. Most importantly, perfection isn’t required—connection is the key.

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Closing Message:
“If phrasal verbs wind you up, you are not alone. They are frustrating… but now that you’re aware of all these different meanings… you’ll recognize them and use them to make better connections.” — Aubrey Carter (16:28)

Transcript

[A]

This is the All Ears English Podcast. Do Phrasal verbs wind you up? Welcome to the All Ears English Podcast downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection with your American host, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz and Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the Allears English app for iOS and Android. Start your 7 day free trial at allearsenglish.com app.

[B]

Today we show you one of the toughest phrasal verbs in the English language and the five meanings you should know to use it. Listen in for a high level connection skill. Today.

[A]

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[B]

I'm great. How are you Lindsay?

[A]

Feeling good. Aubrey, have you recently experienced something that didn't quite wind up the way you expected? Any examples?

[B]

Yes. We were watching an ASU football game and it was right at the end of the game and ASU should have won. They were at the 1 yard line about to score a touchdown and they couldn't do it. They had four second down, third down. They just kept getting stopped. The other team's defense was too good. I Guess. And we were shocked. Everyone was shocked. We couldn't believe we lost the game. It was nuts. Wow.

[A]

That's horrible.

[B]

Yeah. It did not wind up like we thought it was going to.

[A]

Did not wind up. I like what you said there. It did not wind up the way we thought it would. Right?

[B]

Yeah. This phrasal verb is interesting. Today we're sharing about all of the meanings of this phrasal verb. We use it several different ways. And this is actually inspired by a recent episode you and Michelle recorded part of your laundry series when Michelle said all her laundry winds up on the floor.

[A]

Yes. Yes. That was a great series. If you missed it, go back and check out our series on laundry and we'll let you know how to find it at the end of the episode. But Aubrey, let's get into this a little bit deeper, shall we?

[B]

Yes. And guys, be sure to hit follow if you did miss that series. It's amazing how much you can connect over laundry. We all have to do it. It's actually something really great to connect about the drudgeries of life.

[A]

It's so true. That's what we explored this summer. A lot of the episodes that we did, you and I and Michelle and I, a lot of them were about those just like everyday moments that we all encounter and how we can make them. Connection moments. Right?

[B]

Exactly. So follow Ahler's English so you don't miss any of these amazing connection moments. But yeah, let's dive in with this first. Meaning to wind up. Meaning to end up in a situation that's usually unexpected.

[A]

Yes. Okay. So to end up in a situation. So for example, here is a sample sentence. If you keep skipping classes, you'll wind up failing the course.

[B]

Right? Yeah. So this is very similar. To end up, we say end up and wind up. This will be the result of an action. We're saying you'll wind up regretting it. If you do that, you'll wind up failing.

[A]

Yeah, I bet. A lot of pain point for our listeners here might be the past tense. What do we. How do we even say the past tense of to?

[B]

Why? This is tricky. So for in past tense, it's wound up. So for example, you might say he wound up in Paris after taking the wrong train. So he ended up in Paris. Maybe he was meant to go to Rome, but he was on the wrong train. So he wound up in Paris.

[A]

Yeah, I think something like that happened to my mother in law in Italy. Actually there's a story, family lore, but I think it's true. I think she somehow forgot to get off a train in Italy and ended up out in the countryside or something. Just like eight hours away or something.

[B]

I've been there. I'll fall asleep on a train and knock it off on my stop. Well, I guess this is where we're gonna be today. Yeah.

[A]

These things happen. It's perfectly human. And what about. What else? What's another meeting? Aubry?

[B]

Yeah. So the next one is to conclude something, right? To bring something to an end.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So, for example, a meeting, right? Let' wind up the meeting. We've covered everything on the agenda means, like, let's conclude the meeting. But a more informal way of saying that.

[A]

And to go along with this, I've heard wind up. I've heard this phrase being used to. To, like, close down a company. It's ironic because closed down means the same thing, but to close down a company in the sense of do your final accounting for a given year to wind up the records for that company, and that'll be the last filing you'll do for a company. I've heard this is very spec specific. Some of our listeners who are in accounting will probably know it. Are familiar. Yeah. But anyways. Okay. What else? Aubry?

[B]

Yeah, this is interesting. So not just meetings, right? You could also say, like, by midnight, the party was winding up. It means it was concluding. Everyone's leaving. We can tell, like, it's almost over. It's winding up.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. This phrasal verb is fascinating because it makes no sense between this one and the next one example here.

[B]

That's exactly what you were talking about. I think the company plans to wind up its operations by the end of the year. Okay, that meaning, Right?

[A]

That's it right there. But then that totally makes it weird. The next meaning to irritate or annoy someone because in a way, you're starting them up, right? For the next meaning, the next bucket is to irritate or annoy some. Someone. Aubry, can you give us examples?

[B]

So tricky. So, for example, she really knows how to wind up her little brother. I say this all the time because my twins. She knows how to wind up her brother. It means she knows how to push his buttons, how to irritate him.

[A]

And we all know this about our siblings, right? Yeah, exactly. But it's so counterintuitive because the. We just talked about winding up, meaning finishing something, but now we're talking about, like, starting up someone's energy and getting them riled up. Getting.

[B]

Exactly. That is what's really crazy about this phrasal. Verb that its meanings seem so opposite. Right. We've shared all of these that mean like more finishing something, concluding something. And then this means to get someone going, get someone started as well as the next meaning, which is like winding up a toy or a clock. And in this case as well, it means to tighten or prepare something by winding it or turning it.

[A]

So for example, I need to wind up the old clock every week. So you're preparing it to go. To go. Like to. Yeah, to run. Exactly.

[B]

Or he wound up the toy and let it go. So there used to be a lot of toys with more like a crank.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

That you would turn and wind it up and then it would go for a while instead of using battery power.

[A]

Yep, I know exactly what you're talking about. And then the last one. Just one more, guys. We promise.

[B]

There are so many.

[A]

And then this is to cause someone to feel tense or nervous. So kind of related to like irritating or annoying someone, but not exactly the same thing, right?

[B]

Yeah, it's interesting. Sort of a different feeling. For example, you know, don't wind yourself up about things you can't control. Or we'll hear this more often. We'll say don't get wound up. We'll sort of use it in the passive. Don't get wound up by what he says. He's trying to get your goat. Meaning like he's trying to irritate you.

[A]

Don't.

[B]

Don't let him wind you up.

[A]

Yeah. So don't let your emotions get up to here.

[B]

Just relax.

[A]

Don't let it get to you. Wow, those are five very different meanings there, Aubry. So we're gonna take a quick break and then we'll break it down into a role play. All right? Yes.

[B]

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[A]

Okay, Aubry, we're back from break and now in this role play, we are friends playing a board game. Maybe Monopoly or something like that.

[B]

I don't know. It is right up my alley.

[A]

I know. Board game.

[B]

All right, I'll start us out. I can't believe I wound up at the wrong cafe this morning. I was supposed to meet Sarah, but somehow I ended up on the wrong side of town.

[A]

Oh, that could happen to anyone. Don't get wound up about it.

[B]

Easier said than done. My little brother won't stop trying to wind me up about it. He keeps saying I have no sense of direction.

[A]

That's totally something my brother would do. Okay, we need to wind up this game so we can get ready for the party. Otherwise we'll wind up being late.

[B]

Oh, good idea. I also need to wind up that old clock before we leave. Otherwise it'll stop while we're gone.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

I had to squeeze them all into this.

[A]

Yeah, we probably wouldn't say, obviously this much wind up in a conversation, but just for the sake of examples, we've got them here. Where do we start?

[B]

If you did, it would almost be like, intentional. By the end, be like, speaking of winding up, I need to wind up this clock.

[A]

And I think we've actually done an episode on that. Sometimes native speakers riff on each other and they go back and forth. Yes. And they banter by actually coming up with different uses that mean something different.

[B]

Right, Exactly. Intentionally doing that play on words, the double meanings of things. And so this potentially could happen when you realize, like, we've used wind up three different ways.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm gonna intentionally say something else that I need to wind up.

[A]

Totally. It could. Totally. And that said, when you know you are like C2 level or higher, in my opinion. Right.

[B]

Because then you have all in your mind all of the meanings of wind up that you could throw into the conversation. That's huge.

[A]

So let's break it down for our listeners. And, guys, again, don't worry. This is kind of a challenging episode today, I have to say that. So don't worry if you're not getting all these meanings. Just aim to get one or two of them and, you know, dip a toe in the water, and then we'll add more later, okay?

[B]

Yes, absolutely.

[A]

All right.

[B]

So I first said, I can't believe I wound up at the wrong cafe. So that means I found myself there. I ended up at the wrong cafe. I was supposed to meet someone, Sarah. But I took maybe the wrong bus, the wrong train, and I ended up or wound up in the wrong place.

[A]

Yes. And then I said, that could happen to anyone. Don't get wound up about it. So I'm trying to calm you down because you were nervous about it, and I'm saying it's okay.

[B]

Right, exactly. And this one's really interesting as far as connection. Right. I would say this to a friend, like, okay, don't get wound up about it, but sparingly, because it is sort of giving someone the message that, like, they shouldn't be feeling their feelings. Right.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

We're allowed to be irritated or annoyed with. With ourselves. And if you say don't get wound up about it, you're kind of telling someone they're overreacting. So this is one to sort of be careful with, wouldn't you say, Lindsay?

[A]

Yeah, I agree. You got to be careful there for sure. So tread lightly. But if you feel like it's appropriate in that moment and it could help, then, you know, especially if the person's done something that, you know, like, they feel guilty about, like, they feel it's going to affect you and you want to make it clear to them it's.

[B]

Okay, they shouldn't be upset. Yeah. Definitely not something to get wound up over.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

Though it's interesting. In that case, I think I would say, like, don't worry about it. Not something to be upset about.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Wound up. I do feel I would. I don't know that I would use it that way as much because I would be worried that. That they would think I'm discounting their emotions. Right.

[A]

That makes sense. Yeah.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

I love it. Okay, the next one, then. You said, easier said than done. My little brother won't stop trying to wind me up about it. Now. This means he's pushing your buttons, right?

[B]

He's right.

[A]

Saying all the wrong things.

[B]

I had ended up at the wrong cafe. I told my brother about it, and he's teasing me. He's making fun of me for whatever happened if I missed the train, whatever it was. He's trying to wind me up. This is really. Is the sibling dynamic. It's rare that friends do this, but siblings do it all the time. Intentionally trying to irritate you.

[A]

Yes, that totally is 100. Then what did I say? Aubry.

[B]

Next you said, okay, we need to wind up this game so we can get ready for the party. So we're playing a board game. You're saying we need to conclude the game. We need to finish up or we're going to be. Or we're going to wind up being late.

[A]

And this is the meaning of end up. This will be the final results. Right. So we're using two different meanings even just in this one sentence.

[B]

Exactly right. Which we do because these are such different meanings. A native speaker wouldn't even realize they're using the phrasal verb. Necessarily the same phrasal verb because the meanings are so different.

[A]

It's so true. And then you said, good idea. Oh, I also need to wind up the clock. So you need to crank. Another word would be to crank it. Right? To crank the clock a little bit.

[B]

Exactly right. This is a low tech clock where you have to wind it. There's no battery, there's no electric power, and once you wind it and that runs out, that's going to not tell time correctly anymore. It's a pretty old school clock.

[A]

Yeah. I think our Gen Z listeners might have no idea what we're like, what?

[B]

Why would anyone ever want a wind up clock?

[A]

Oh, gosh. All right. So Aubrey, where is that other episode about laundry that we could. We could check out if we miss that series? Yeah.

[B]

This was all there's English 2487 laundry in English part three. Overwhelmed by laundry. Make it a connection moment. And this really was great with advice, strategies to connect over those things that we all have to deal with. Nobody loves.

[A]

Might as well talk about it, right? Might as well talk about it. Love it. And what's our takeaway for today? I mean, we. This, like I said, this is a challenging episode. So don't, you know, don't feel bad if you're not getting all five of these meanings. Right.

[B]

Right. If phrasal verbs wind you up, you are not alone. Right. They are frustrating. Especially when one phrasal verb can have so many different meanings. This can be very confusing. It does help now that you're aware of all of these different meanings. So if you see wind up and you've learned one meaning, you're not going to make the mistake of assuming it's that, you know. Oh, there's actually a bunch of meanings for this phrasal verb so you'll recognize. Not make that mistake.

[A]

You got it, guys. Hit the follow button if you don't want to miss a single episode of All Ears English and Aubry. I'll see you next time. Thanks for being on the show today. Yes.

[B]

Awesome. See you next time.

[A]

All right, take care. Bye. Thanks for listening to All Ears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluency score. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time. And Doug, here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people.

[C]

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[C]

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