dirty up
B2 informal separable both
In simple words
To get something dirty or to make it look messy and soiled.
Literal meaning: To make something dirty, increasing its dirtiness upward.
Meanings
1 B1 informal
To make something or someone dirty, especially thoroughly or deliberately.
"Don't dirty up your new shoes before the ceremony."
Grammar: separable
2 B2 informal
To become dirty or stained.
"White fabric dirties up so much faster than darker colours."
Usage notes
Informal and widely understood. Can be transitive ('dirty up the floor') or reflexive ('dirty yourself up'). Also used in film and design contexts similarly to 'dirty down', though with less specific connotation of realistic ageing.
Commonly used with
floor clothes hands car image room
Forms
Base
dirty up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dirties up
he/she/it
Past simple
dirtied up
yesterday
Past participle
dirtied up
have + pp
-ing form
dirtying up
continuous
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