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lush up

C1 informal separable both
In simple words

To make a place or thing look much better and more beautiful, like adding lots of plants or decorations — or (in slang) to get drunk.

Literal meaning: 'Lush' means richly abundant and green or luxurious; 'up' signals improvement or increase. The literal sense of enhancing richness is fairly transparent.

Meanings

1 B2 informal

To make a space, garden, or environment richer, more beautiful, and more abundantly decorated or planted.

"They lushd up the rooftop terrace with hanging vines and tropical plants."

Grammar: separable
2 C1 idiomatic slang

(Slang) To drink alcohol heavily; to become drunk.

"He'd been lushing up since noon and could barely stand by evening."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Two distinct uses: (1) To enhance the visual richness or luxuriousness of a space, garden, or design — common in interior design and gardening contexts. (2) Slang, particularly older American slang: to drink alcohol and become intoxicated. The gardening/design sense is the more current and neutral use.

Commonly used with

garden space interior décor atmosphere plants

Forms

Base
lush up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lushes up
he/she/it
Past simple
lushed up
yesterday
Past participle
lushed up
have + pp
-ing form
lushing up
continuous

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Synonyms

beautify enrich spruce up embellish green up deck out

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