BRUSH UP • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Brush up

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/brəʃ əp/ Listen

verb

Brush v. t. (past & past part. brushed; pres. part. brushing)

To apply a brush to, according to its particular use; to rub, smooth, clean, paint, etc., with a brush. "A' brushes his hat o' mornings."

To touch in passing, or to pass lightly over, as with a brush. "Some spread their sailes, some with strong oars sweep The waters smooth, and brush the buxom wave." "Brushed with the kiss of rustling wings."

To remove or gather by brushing, or by an act like that of brushing, or by passing lightly over, as wind; commonly with off. "As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed With raven's feather from unwholesome fen." "And from the boughts brush off the evil dew."

To brush aside, to remove from one's way, as with a brush.

To brush away, to remove, as with a brush or brushing motion.

To brush up, to paint, or make clean or bright with a brush; to cleanse or improve; to renew. "You have commissioned me to paint your shop, and I have done my best to brush you up like your neighbors."

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Etymology of 'Brush up'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Brush up" Quotes from Famous Books

... There ain't but one woman as looks happy in this whole community and that's Mrs. Sperrit, an' she looks so happy that at first glance she looks full as much like a fool as anythin'. The minister's wife don't look happy,—she looks a deal more like somethin' a cat finds an' lugs home for you to brush up,—an' goodness knows Mrs. Fisher don't look happy an' she ain't happy neither, for she told me herself yesterday as since Mr. Fisher had got this new idea of developin' his chest with Japanese Jimmy Jig-songs, an' takin' a cold plunge in the slop jar every mornin', that ...

— Susan Clegg and a Man in the House • Anne Warner

... donned my best suit again, gave myself an extra brush up, and sauntered down town to see if I could run across her in the streets. What reason I had for thinking I should is more than I can tell you, but at any rate I was not destined to be disappointed. Crossing George Street a ...

— A Bid for Fortune - or Dr. Nikola's Vendetta • Guy Boothby

... Jones, who is going to read Latin with us. Miss Steele is one of my teachers, Jones, and we three are going to brush up our classics ...

— Tom, Dick and Harry • Talbot Baines Reed

... road?" asked Matt, as they tied up upon an open street on the other side, and went into the great ferry-house to wash and brush up. ...

— Young Auctioneers - The Polishing of a Rolling Stone • Edward Stratemeyer

... more money, or acquiring any firmer health, a sick despair possessed him. He tried writing, but he always came home from the office so tired that his brain could not work. For half the year he did not reach his dim up-town flat till after dark, and could only "brush up" for dinner, and afterward lie on the lounge with his pipe, while his sister droned through the evening paper. Sometimes he spent an evening at the theatre; or he dined out, or, more rarely, strayed off with an acquaintance or two in quest of what is known as "pleasure." And in summer, ...

— Tales Of Men And Ghosts • Edith Wharton

... far on the next game before Cherry's quick eye detected a sign which the man misinterpreted. She addressed him, quietly, "You'd better brush up your plumes." ...

— The Spoilers • Rex Beach