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cork up

B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To put a cork in a bottle, or to keep your feelings inside instead of expressing them.

Literal meaning: To put a cork (stopper) into the opening of a bottle.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To close a bottle or container by putting a cork or stopper in the opening.

"Cork up the wine bottle if you're not going to finish it tonight."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To suppress or hold back emotions, feelings, or opinions instead of expressing them.

"He's been corking up his anxiety for months and it's starting to show."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

(Informal) To silence someone or stop them from speaking.

"Cork it up, will you? I'm trying to concentrate."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The literal sense (corking a bottle) is transparent and practical. The figurative sense (suppressing emotions or silencing someone) is less common than 'bottle up' and is slightly informal. Can also be used informally to mean 'be quiet.'

Commonly used with

bottle feelings emotions wine anger mouth

Forms

Base
cork up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
corks up
he/she/it
Past simple
corked up
yesterday
Past participle
corked up
have + pp
-ing form
corking up
continuous

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Synonyms

bottle up seal up stopper suppress hold in contain

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