brew up

B2 informal both both

In simple words

to make tea, or to start building up

Literal meaning: to prepare by steeping and building up

Meanings

1 B2 informal

common

to make tea

"I'll brew up while you set the table."

Grammar: both

2 C1 idiomatic neutral

uncommon

to begin to develop or build up, especially something unpleasant such as trouble or bad weather

"A nasty argument was brewing up by the time the manager arrived."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Especially common in British English for making tea. The figurative sense is less common and often appears with trouble, a storm, or tension.

tea a storm trouble weather argument tension

Base

brew up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

brews up

he/she/it

Past simple

brewed up

yesterday

Past participle

brewed up

have + pp

-ing form

brewing up

continuous

Try:

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make tea put the kettle on develop build up gather

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