Meaning trap
open up
talk honestly
To start talking more honestly or freely about your feelings, thoughts, or experiences.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To start talking more honestly or freely about your feelings, thoughts, or experiences.
Another meaning of 'open up' is 'make access possible'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
It took a while, but eventually he opened up about his worries.
In my opinion, it's important for people to open up to their friends when they're feeling stressed, because talking can really help.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: It took him a while to open up with me.
Say: It took him a while to open up to me.
You 'open up TO someone', not 'with'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Open up' is the natural verb for sharing feelings; 'disclose innermost feelings' is clinical.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
open up + to someone
- to me
- to a friend
- about it
- emotionally
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- open up (make access possible) — Another meaning of 'open up' is 'make access possible'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.