Relationship Phrasal Verbs

You know the old saying: Distance makes the heart grow fonder. But does it really hold true if someone only goes out for a few hours?

A viral TikTok with more than 22 million views seems to say yes. In the clip, a muscular man with a huge grin rushes to his wife’s car after she had gone out for just two hours. The moment quickly warmed viewers to him, with comments like: “This made me realize I deserve someone like this.” Another wrote: “There’s nothing like seeing a big guy being a total lover boy.”

The post itself is lighthearted, but it brought together deeper questions about relationships: Is it healthy to miss your partner that much? Or could that be a sign of something else?

Experts say every couple looks different. What works for one pair may not work for another. The key is striking a balance between togetherness and independence. You might strike up the habit of missing your partner after a few hours and still enjoy time on your own. That balance keeps relationships strong in the long run.

But when does missing someone become too much? Therapists explain that it depends on how it affects the partners. For some, it’s a sweet reflection of affection. Who wouldn’t want to see their partner smiling when they return after being away all day? Others, however, might need more space. Too much closeness could come between their personal identity and their relationship.

Still, experts warn of danger signs. If the absence leads to overwhelming anxiety or if enjoying separate time causes conflict, that could mean deeper attachment issues. In these cases, couples may need to patch up communication patterns—or even seek outside help.

Friends and family may try to include encouragement in their advice, but professional guidance can offer clearer insights. As one psychologist noted, “We all have emotional blind spots that can keep us from what we truly want.”

Ultimately, whether you’ve only heard of such issues or heard from a therapist directly, the message is the same: healthy relationships rely not just on love, but on understanding. If being apart mostly brings happiness, and being together causes conflict, it may be time to patch up the relationship with professional support.

Vocabulary Guide

1. go out

Definition: To leave home, usually for social reasons.

Example: They decided to go out for dinner after work.

Practice Question: When was the last time you went out with friends, and what did you do?

2. warm to

Definition: To gradually start liking or feeling comfortable with someone or something.

Example: At first she was shy, but she quickly warmed to the group.

Practice Question: Do you usually warm to people quickly, or does it take time?

3. brought together

Definition: To cause people to meet or unite for a purpose.

Example: The music festival brought together fans from all over the world.

Practice Question: Can you think of an event that brought people together in your country recently?

4. strike up

Definition: To start something, especially a conversation or friendship.

Example: He struck up a conversation with the person sitting next to him on the train.

Practice Question: When was the last time you struck up a conversation with a stranger?

5. know of

Definition: To be aware of someone or something, but not know them personally or in detail.

Example: I know of that singer, but I don’t listen to her music.

Practice Question: Do you know of anyone famous from your hometown?

6. hear of

Definition: To be informed about or become aware of something.

Example: I’ve never heard of that movie before.

Practice Question: What’s something interesting you recently heard of?

7. hear from

Definition: To receive communication (a message, letter, call) from someone.

Example: I haven’t heard from my cousin in months.

Practice Question: Who’s the last person you heard from today?

8. butter up

Definition: To flatter someone in order to gain favor.

Example: He tried to butter up his boss by bringing coffee every morning.

Practice Question: Have you ever buttered up someone to get what you wanted?

9. come between

Definition: To cause disagreement or distance between people.

Example: Don’t let money come between you and your friends.

Practice Question: What kinds of things can come between friends or family members?

10. patch up

Definition: To fix or repair a relationship after conflict.

Example: They argued, but later patched things up and became close again.

Practice Question: Have you ever patched up a friendship after a disagreement?