Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [bruhsh uhp]
- /brʌʃ ʌp/
- /brʌʃ ʌp/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [bruhsh uhp]
- /brʌʃ ʌp/
Definitions of brush up words
- phrasal verb brush up If you brush up something or brush up on it, you practise it or improve your knowledge of it. 3
- verb brush up to refresh one's knowledge, skill, or memory of (a subject) 3
- verb brush up to make (a person or oneself) tidy, clean, or neat as after a journey 3
- noun brush up the act or an instance of tidying one's appearance (esp in the phrase wash and brush-up) 3
- noun brush up a quick refresher on a subject; an act of brushing up 3
- noun brush up to make neat or presentable 3
Information block about the term
Origin of brush up
First appearance:
before 1350 One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; (noun) Middle English brusshe, probably to be identified with brush2, if orig. sense was implement made from twigs, etc., culled from brushwood; (v.) Middle English brushen to hasten, rush, probably < Old French brosser to travel (through brush), verbal derivative of broce (see brush2)
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Brush up
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
brush up popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
brush up usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for brush up
verb brush up
- cram — If you cram things or people into a container or place, you put them into it, although there is hardly enough room for them.
- go over — to move or proceed, especially to or from something: They're going by bus.
- refurbish — to furbish again; renovate; brighten: to refurbish the lobby.
- renovate — to restore to good condition; make new or as if new again; repair.
- reread — to read (something) again.
Antonyms for brush up
verb brush up
- forget — to cease or fail to remember; be unable to recall: to forget someone's name.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with b
- Words starting with br
- Words starting with bru
- Words starting with brus
- Words starting with brush
- Words starting with brushu
- Words starting with brushup