Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Pipe Up

What does it mean?

Pipe up means to speak suddenly, unexpectedly, or loudly — especially after previously being quiet.

Is it positive or negative?

Neutral — it simply describes how someone speaks.

When do you use it?

Use it when someone unexpectedly contributes to a conversation or interrupts with new information.

Examples

Example 1: “We were stuck until the little boy piped up with the correct answer.”

Example 2: “I was leaving when the manager piped up and asked me to stay.”

Question for you

When was the last time you piped up with something useful?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online?

Pipe up with confidence in your next English conversation! Build fluency in my online English lessons on Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet.