brush up

brush up
verb
1. refresh one's memory (Freq. 1)
-

I reviewed the material before the test

• Syn: ↑review, ↑refresh
• Derivationally related forms: ↑refresher (for: ↑refresh), ↑brushup, ↑review (for: ↑review)
• Hypernyms:
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s PP

2. bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state
-

polish your social manners

• Syn: ↑polish, ↑round, ↑round off, ↑polish up
• Derivationally related forms: ↑polish (for: ↑polish)
• Hypernyms: ↑perfect, ↑hone
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Something ——s something

* * *

[verb]
revise, bone up (informal), cram, go over, polish up, read up, refresh one's memory, relearn, study

* * *

transitive verb
1. : to polish up or improve by eliminating small imperfections

spent their off time in brushing up their act

2. : to refresh one's memory of : renew one's skill in or knowledge of

brush up your Shakespeare

brushed up his piano technique

: to refresh one's memory : renew one's skill or knowledge — used with on

brushing up on his golf

brushing up on their understanding of the accepted maritime law — F.L.Paxson

brush up on the significant dates before the history exam

* * *

brush up
1. To freshen one's appearance
2. To clean and tidy
3. To renew one's knowledge of (a subject; sometimes with on) (brushˈ-up noun)
• • •
Main Entry: ↑brush

* * *

ˌbrush ˈup [intransitive/transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they brush up he/she/it brushes up present participle brushing up past tense brushed up past participle brushed up] phrasal verb
to practise and improve your skills or knowledge of something

I took a class to brush up my German before the trip.

brush up on:

the opportunity to brush up on various techniques

Thesaurus: practice and practising doing somethingsynonym
Main entry: brush

* * *

brush up [phrasal verb]
brush up or brush up (something) : to improve your skill at (something) or increase your knowledge of (something)

My Spanish is very rusty. I need to brush up before I go on my vacation to Mexico.

I need to brush up my Spanish.

— often + on

I need to brush up on my Spanish.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑brush

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Brush — (br[u^]sh), n. [OE. brusche, OF. broche, broce, brosse, brushwood, F. brosse brush, LL. brustia, bruscia, fr. OHG. brusta, brust, bristle, G. borste bristle, b[ u]rste brush. See {Bristle}, n., and cf. {Browse}.] 1. An instrument composed of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Brush — Brush, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Brushed} (br[u^]sht); p. pr. & vb. n. {Brushing}.] [OE. bruschen; cf. F. brosser. See {Brush}, n.] 1. To apply a brush to, according to its particular use; to rub, smooth, clean, paint, etc., with a brush. A brushes… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • brush — brush1 [brush] n. [ME brushe < OFr broce, brosse, bush, brushwood < VL * bruscia < Gmc * bruskaz, underbrush: for IE base see BREAST] 1. BRUSHWOOD ☆ 2. sparsely settled country, covered with wild scrub growth 3. a) a device having… …   English World dictionary

  • Brush — bezeichnet: eine Kleinstadt im US Bundesstaat Colorado, siehe Brush (Colorado) Pinsel bzw. Pinselspitzen für Grafikprogramme, siehe Digitales Malen im Leveldesign von Computerspielen das Volumen, die Wände, Decken und andere räumliche Gebilde,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Brush — /brush/, n. Katharine, 1902 52, U.S. novelist and short story writer. * * * ▪ art       device composed of natural or synthetic fibres set into a handle that is used for cleaning, grooming, polishing, writing, or painting. Brushes were used by… …   Universalium

  • brush — brush·a·bil·i·ty; brush; brush·ite; brush·less; sage·brush; sage·brush·er; scratch·brush·er; brush·er; brush·man; …   English syllables

  • brush — vb Brush, graze, glance, shave, skim are comparable when they mean to touch lightly in passing. Brush implies a movement like the flick of a brush upon a surface: sometimes it suggests no more than an almost impalpable touching, but sometimes it… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • brush|y — brush|y1 «BRUHSH ee», adjective, brush|i|er, brush|i|est. like a brush; rough and shaggy. ╂[< brush1 + y1] brush …   Useful english dictionary

  • brush-on — /brush on , awn /, adj. 1. fit to be applied with a brush: a brush on paint remover. n. 2. a substance that can be applied with a brush: The varnish dries more quickly than most brush ons. [adj., n. use of v. phrase brush on] * * * …   Universalium

  • brush — Ⅰ. brush [1] ► NOUN 1) an implement with a handle and a block of bristles, hair, or wire, used especially for cleaning, smoothing, or painting. 2) an act of brushing. 3) a slight and fleeting touch. 4) a brief encounter with something bad or… …   English terms dictionary

  • brush-on — /brush on , awn /, adj. 1. fit to be applied with a brush: a brush on paint remover. n. 2. a substance that can be applied with a brush: The varnish dries more quickly than most brush ons. [adj., n. use of v. phrase brush on] …   Useful english dictionary

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