take up

You usually follow take up with a noun or a gerund. For example, you can take up photography. You can also take up running. It is a phrasable verb, but we rarely split it. You would not say 'take photography up.' Keep the words together for a natural flow. It sounds much better that way. Just imagine you are adding a new 'layer' to your personality.

Use this when chatting about your free time. It is perfect for New Year's resolutions. Use it when meeting new people at a party. 'I recently took up yoga' is a great icebreaker. It also works for starting a new position at work. If you start a new role, you take up the post. It feels active and intentional. It shows you are excited about the change.

Do not use it for things you have to do. You do not take up doing the dishes. That is just a chore, not a hobby! Also, avoid it for temporary actions. If you just try a food once, you did not take up eating it. It is for habits, not single events. Don't use it for quitting things either. That is the opposite of what we want here!

In English-speaking cultures, self-improvement is a huge topic. People love the idea of 'reinventing' themselves. Take up carries a sense of personal growth. It suggests you are an active, interesting person. It became very popular in the mid-20th century. This was when people gained more leisure time. Now, it is a staple of everyday conversation. It sounds productive and positive.

You might hear take up space or take up time. These are slightly different but related. They mean something is filling a physical or temporal area. If a meeting takes up your whole morning, it consumed that time. If a big sofa takes up the living room, it fills the space. However, the 'hobby' meaning is the most common for social chat. Stick to that for the most friendly vibes.