churn up
To mess up and mix around a surface like mud or water, or to make someone feel very upset inside
Meanings
To disturb and mix up a surface (mud, water, earth) through violent movement
"The tanks had churned up the field into a sea of mud."
To cause strong feelings of disgust, anxiety, or nausea (often 'churn up one's stomach')
"Just thinking about the accident churned up her stomach."
Can be used literally (of mud, water, soil, or earth being disturbed) or figuratively (of emotions being stirred up unpleasantly). The emotional sense is usually used with 'stomach' — 'it churns up my stomach'. The literal sense is common in descriptions of outdoor scenes after storms, heavy vehicles, or battles.
Commonly used with
Forms
Understand "churn up" better
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "churn up" on Looplines