dub up
C1 slang separable both
In simple words
To lock someone in a prison cell (slang), or to add extra audio to a recording.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
slang
(British prison slang) To lock a prison cell door, confining the prisoner inside.
"The guard told the inmates to get inside before he dubbed them up for the night."
Grammar: separable
2 C1 informal
(Audio/music) To add a dubbed or remixed layer to a recording.
"The DJ dubbed up a bassline over the original vocal track."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Highly restricted usage. The prison sense is British English slang, rarely encountered outside of prison narratives or crime fiction. The audio sense overlaps with general 'dub' usage in music production. Not recommended for general learners to use actively.
Commonly used with
cell door prisoner track recording
Forms
Base
dub up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dubs up
he/she/it
Past simple
dubed up
yesterday
Past participle
dubed up
have + pp
-ing form
dubing up
continuous
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