mug up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To quickly study or learn a lot of information, usually before a test or an event.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To study something intensively in preparation for an exam, interview, or event.
"I need to mug up on the French Revolution before tomorrow's history test."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
(Indian English) To learn something by rote memorisation without necessarily understanding it.
"He mugged up the entire periodic table the night before the exam."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
British and Indian English. Particularly common in India where 'mugging up' often refers to rote memorisation. In the UK it means intensive revision. Not well known in American English.
Commonly used with
facts notes subject dates vocabulary history
Forms
Base
mug up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
mugs up
he/she/it
Past simple
muged up
yesterday
Past participle
muged up
have + pp
-ing form
muging up
continuous
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Synonyms
swot up cram revise study bone up on hit the books
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