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fix up

B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To repair something old, to arrange something for someone, or to introduce two people who might become a couple.

Literal meaning: To make something fixed (repaired) and good — 'up' adds a sense of improvement or completion.

Meanings

1 B1 informal

To repair, renovate, or improve a building, room, or object.

"They bought an old farmhouse and spent the summer fixing it up."

"We're going to fix up the basement and turn it into a playroom."

— Common American home renovation context; widely used in HGTV programming and interviews
Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To arrange or organize something for someone, such as accommodation, a meeting, or an opportunity.

"Can you fix me up with somewhere to stay while I'm in town?"

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

To arrange for two people to meet each other, especially romantically.

"My sister fixed me up with her colleague and we've been dating ever since."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Very versatile and common in everyday American English. The renovation sense ('fix up the house') and the arrangement sense ('fix you up with a friend') are most frequent. The romantic matchmaking sense is colloquial. Common in both AmE and BrE.

Commonly used with

house car appointment date friend room meeting

Forms

Base
fix up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fixes up
he/she/it
Past simple
fixed up
yesterday
Past participle
fixed up
have + pp
-ing form
fixing up
continuous

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Synonyms

renovate repair arrange sort out set up refurbish

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