mic up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To put a microphone on someone so they can be heard or recorded.
Literal meaning: 'Mic' is an abbreviation of microphone; 'up' signals preparation or completion. To mic up: to prepare someone with a microphone.
Meanings
1 B2 informal
To fit a person or item with a microphone, typically before a performance, broadcast, or recording.
"The sound engineer miced up all the panellists before the debate began."
Grammar: separable
2 B2 informal
(Sports/broadcasting) To equip an athlete or participant with a body microphone for live coverage.
"Several players were miced up during training so fans could hear their conversations on the documentary."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Common in broadcast, film, theatre, and live event production. Also used in sports coverage when athletes wear radio microphones. The spelling 'mic' has overtaken 'mike' in most contemporary style guides.
Commonly used with
speaker performer athlete presenter stage interview
Forms
Base
mic up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
mics up
he/she/it
Past simple
miced up
yesterday
Past participle
miced up
have + pp
-ing form
micing up
continuous
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Synonyms
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