Meaning trap
mix up
combine things
To put different things together so they are mixed or combined.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To put different things together so they are mixed or combined.
Another meaning of 'mix up' is 'confuse two things'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Mix up the ingredients before you pour them into the pan.
When I cook, I like to mix up different spices to create new flavors.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: Mix up well the batter.
Say: Mix the batter up well. / Mix up the batter well.
Keep the adverb at the end: 'mix it up well'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Mix up' is the plain everyday verb; 'amalgamate' is absurdly formal in the kitchen.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
mix up + ingredients
- the batter
- a drink
- some cement
- the paint
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- mix up (confuse two things) — Another meaning of 'mix up' is 'confuse two things'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.