hoover up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
Take in or use up a huge amount of something very fast and completely
Literal meaning: To vacuum (hoover) something up from the floor or surface
Meanings
1 A2 neutral
To clean or remove something from a surface using a vacuum cleaner
"She hoovered up the biscuit crumbs before the guests arrived."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To acquire, absorb, or consume a large amount of something (resources, people, attention) rapidly and completely
"The startup hoovered up investment capital within weeks of launching."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Primarily British English. Derived from the brand name 'Hoover' (vacuum cleaner). Used literally for vacuuming and figuratively for consuming resources, talent, attention, or information rapidly. The figurative use is increasingly common in journalism and business writing.
Commonly used with
resources talent profits data market share crumbs
Forms
Base
hoover up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hoovers up
he/she/it
Past simple
hoovered up
yesterday
Past participle
hoovered up
have + pp
-ing form
hoovering up
continuous
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Synonyms
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