Step up means to increase something: effort, the pace, security measures. The second meaning is to rise to the occasion: to take on responsibility when it's needed. She really stepped up is praise: she coped when others couldn't or wouldn't.
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step up + efforts/security/the pace; step something up; step up (and + verb) = take responsibility; step up to + role/challenge
- Before the exam, I stepped up my practice to two essays a day.
- The city has stepped up security around the stadium for the final.
- When our team leader got sick, Maria stepped up and ran the project.
What changed
First versionWhen our manager got sick, Anna made a step forward and ran the project.
RevisionWhen our manager got sick, Anna stepped up and ran the project.
Make a step isn't natural English; the phrase is take a step. But even take a step forward means “to make progress”, not “to take charge”. When someone takes over another person's work at a difficult moment and handles it, English says step up.
Step back is the opposite: to move away or withdraw: After the scandal, he stepped back from the company. Step down means to leave a job or position: The director stepped down in May. Step up means rising to a difficult moment; it has nothing to do with promotion.
Your turn
Our coach was ill, so the captain ___ and led the training himself.
Show the answer
stepped up — The captain took on the coach's role, so stepped up. Stepped back means withdrew from things, which contradicts led the training himself.
Describe a situation when someone took on another person's task. Say who it was and what they did.
When our teacher was ill, my classmate Tom stepped up and explained the new topic to everyone.
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