Meaning trap
pop up
appear unexpectedly
To appear suddenly and unexpectedly, especially when it needs attention.
phrasal verb
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
A few urgent tasks popped up just before I was about to leave the office.
I usually plan my day quite carefully, but small things keep popping up, like messages from work or errands I hadn't expected.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: A problem popped out at work.
Say: A problem popped up at work.
Use 'pop up' for something that appears unexpectedly; 'pop out' usually means leave briefly or become visible.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
A problem suddenly appears
How formalCasualNeutral
pop upYou're here · Casual: an unexpected issue, opportunity, or task appears.
crop upA bit casual: a small problem appears unexpectedly.come upEveryday: something happens that needs dealing with.ariseMore formal, at work or in writing: 'if problems arise'.Compare it
Where this one sits next to the phrases it gets mixed up with.