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plug up

B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To stuff something into a hole to stop water, air, or anything else from getting through

Literal meaning: To fill a hole with a plug

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To fill or block a hole or gap in order to prevent leakage or flow

"He used waterproof sealant to plug up the cracks in the basement wall."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral

To become or cause something to become blocked

"The drain had plugged up completely with grease and had to be professionally cleared."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

To close a loophole or address a shortfall in a plan, budget, or system

"The new legislation aims to plug up the tax loopholes that large corporations have been exploiting."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Can refer to physical holes, drains, or pipes, as well as metaphorical gaps such as budget shortfalls or loopholes. Common in everyday informal English for describing plumbing or DIY tasks.

Commonly used with

hole drain leak gap crack pipe loophole

Forms

Base
plug up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
plugs up
he/she/it
Past simple
pluged up
yesterday
Past participle
pluged up
have + pp
-ing form
pluging up
continuous

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