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chair up

C1 informal inseparable intransitive

In simple words

To become the person in charge who leads a meeting or organisation.

Literal meaning: To move up into the chair — taking the seat of the chairperson.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

rare

(informal) To take on the role of chairperson of a committee, board, or meeting.

"After the previous chair resigned, nobody wanted to chair up until the crisis had passed."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Very rare. Not a standard or established phrasal verb in most dictionaries. The verb 'chair' alone (to chair a meeting) is far more common. 'Chair up' may occasionally appear in informal or business slang. Learners should use 'chair' or 'head up' instead.

Commonly used with

committee board meeting panel organisation

Forms

Base

chair up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

chairs up

he/she/it

Past simple

chaired up

yesterday

Past participle

chaired up

have + pp

-ing form

chairing up

continuous

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Synonyms

chair head up preside over take the chair lead

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