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furbish up

C1 formal separable transitive
In simple words

To clean up and restore something old so it looks like new again.

Literal meaning: To furbish (polish/clean) something completely upward to a finished state.

Meanings

1 C1 formal

To restore, clean, and polish something that has become old, worn, or neglected so that it looks presentable again.

"They spent the summer furbishing up the old manor house before opening it to visitors."

Grammar: separable
2 C1 idiomatic formal

To revise or improve something such as a piece of writing or an idea, making it fresh or presentable.

"The editor asked her to furbish up the old manuscript before resubmitting it to publishers."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

An older, somewhat formal expression. The verb 'furbish' alone (meaning to polish or clean) is itself rarely used in modern English. 'Furbish up' appears in older literature and formal writing. Most modern speakers would use 'refurbish', 'do up', or 'renovate' instead.

Commonly used with

old furniture weapons armour the house antiques equipment

Forms

Base
furbish up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
furbishes up
he/she/it
Past simple
furbished up
yesterday
Past participle
furbished up
have + pp
-ing form
furbishing up
continuous

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Synonyms

refurbish renovate restore smarten up do up polish up

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