buff up
To make something shiny by rubbing it — or to build big muscles at the gym.
Meanings
To polish an object by rubbing it until it becomes shiny.
"He spent the afternoon buffing up his motorbike until he could see his reflection in the fuel tank."
To develop a muscular and well-defined physique through exercise and training.
"He spent three months at the gym buffing up for the role."
To improve or refresh one's knowledge or skills in a particular area.
"I need to buff up my Spanish before the trip to Madrid."
The gym/fitness sense is very common in informal speech. The polishing sense is also used. Both senses share the idea of bringing out or improving surface quality — whether of an object or a body.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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