Wrap Up to Kick Off: 25 Phrasal Verbs for End of Year Reflection & New Beginnings

The end of the year is drawing close and as we all busy ourselves prepping for Christmas and planning for another new year, there's probably a fair few phrasal verbs that we're saying at exactly this time of year.

So with that in mind, I've summed up 25 very common and used phrasal verbs related to the end of the year and the start of the next one. Enjoy!

1. wrap up = a phrasal verb that we use to summarise things that have happened in a space of time, like an entire year, or the music we've listened to in that year.

   "Let's wrap up 2025 with a look at some of our biggest achievements this year."

   
   

2. tie up = often used in the expression 'tie up loose ends', we use this when we mention tasks that need to completed. We use it at the end of the year, or when we're close to finishing some kind of project.

   "The team have some last minute things to tie up before leaving the office."

   
   

3. catch up on = the first of two 'catch up' phrasal verbs, because they are extremely common! With the preposition 'on', we are describing things, tasks or activities that we need to do, complete or update ourselves on.

   "I have just a few more emails to catch up on, then I'm closing my laptop for the year."

   
   

4. catch up with = and the second of the 'catch up' phrasal verbs uses the preposition 'with'. In this case, we're most likely talking about people. During Christmas and New Year especially, many people catch up with lots of friends and family at social events (chat and update each other on life).

   "I can't wait to catch up with you at Christmas, it's been ages since I last saw you!"

   
   

5. wind down = 'wind' pronounced like 'kind', followed by 'down' means to slow down and start doing less (work, for example). It's quite often related to relaxing.

   "As soon as I leave work on Friday, I can start to wind down for the year."

   
   

6. check off = when we have a to-do list or a shopping list, we 'check off' the items as we go, signifying that we've completed something on the list.

   "I'm nearly finished, there's just three more things to check off my Christmas shopping list."

   
   

7. turn down = Yes, we do turn down the volume on the TV. But in this case, we are turning down an invitation, we are declining the invitation.

   "Tilly invited me over for New Year, but I turned her down. I'm already going to Jane's house."

   
   

8. stick to = This one is very commonly used during the start of a new year when people discuss making resolutions, or maybe several weeks or months later when they discuss whether or not they have successfully continued with the new year's resolutions. 'Sticking to' something is doing it, continuing it, maintaining it.

   "Usually, I find it really hard to stick to goals so I'm not making any resolutions."

   
   

9. get into = When we want to start something new, like a type of hobby, we 'get into' it, which means to become interested in it and make a start.

   "I feel like I don't have any hobbies. I'd like to get into something creative next year."

   
   

10. take up = Similar to 'get into', we 'take up' a new hobby like a sport or a class.

    "I'm planning on taking up yoga next year. Wanna join me?"

    
    

11. branch out = Another one about starting something new. We particularly use this one when we've been used to the same things for a while, and perhaps we want to leave our comfort zone.

    "I want to branch out and try something totally new next year."

    
    

12. give up = a very common way to say that we are stopping something or removing it from our lives. The phrasal verb 'cut out' can very often be used interchangeably.

    "In January, I'm going to give up smoking."

    
    

13. cut down on = If we don't want to completely stop having something, we can at least have less of it, we can reduce it. That's when we use 'cut down on'.

    "She wants to make some changes to her diet and cut down on sugar next year."

    
    

14. dress up = To wear smart or elegant clothes for a special occasion. "One of my favourite parts about celebrating New Year's Eve is getting to dress up."
    

15. stock up on = to gather multiple items, usually for a particular purpose. At Christmas, a lot of people tend to stock up on food and beverages to enjoy throughout the festive period. "I've stocked up on lots of food and wine to get through the Christmas break."

    
    

16. sort out = Very common. Particularly with a fresh start, it's often nice to organise things, clean things or throw things away. There's a phrasal verb that refers to all of this, and it is 'sort out'. "I want to sort out my cupboards and make room for new things in the new year.

    
    

17. clean up = When things are dirty, we clean them. However, when things are dirty and also messy (e.g., cups, plates, bottles on tables after a party), we clean UP.

    "The Christmas party was messy, there was so much to clean up afterwards."

    
    

18. look forward to = used very frequently when we are excited for something to come.

    "I'm looking forward to travelling to new places next year."

    
    

19. look back on = this is a phrasal verb used when we are reflecting on the past.

    "I will look back on this year with good memories."

    
    

20. see in = this is quite a unique phrasal verb as there aren't many contexts to use it in (we might 'see in' a new decade or a new era). Mostly it's a way of welcoming and celebrating a new year.

    "This is my first time seeing in the new year in my own house!"

    
    

21. move on = we use this when we want to leave something in the past (typically something negative) and begin a new stage or a new part of our lives.

    "I can't wait to move on from 2025, it was one of my worst years yet."

    
    

22. kick off = an informal way to say how you intend to start something. It has an energetic feel to it, so it's usually used with events and exciting things.

    "I'm kicking off the year with a holiday to Australia."

    
    

23. ease into = You remember at the top of this list we had 'wind down'? Well, this phrasal verb is the equivalent but instead of ending something in a calm, slow way, we start it by 'easing into' it. "I'm still on holiday until the 5th January, so I can ease into the new year with a few more days to relax."

    
    

24. count down = 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! "Grab a glass of champagne, we're about to count down to midnight!"

    
    

25. toast to = Used at an event or a special occasion, people will raise their glasses and 'toast to' the reason for the celebration. In this case... "Let's toast to a very Happy New Year!"

If you want to practise, here's some questions for you:

• Who do you hope to catch up with during the festive season?

• What are you looking forward to most in 2026?

• Will you take up a new hobby? If so, what?

• How do you plan to see in the new year?

• Looking back on 2025, what are you most proud of?
  

THANKS FOR READING!

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