polish up

B1 neutral separable transitive

In simple words

To make something better, cleaner, or shinier than it was before.

Literal meaning: To rub a surface with polish until it becomes shiny — the figurative sense extends this to mean refining or improving something.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

common

To clean and shine an object by rubbing it with polish or a cloth.

"He spent Saturday morning polishing up his old motorbike until it gleamed."

Grammar: separable

2 B1 idiomatic neutral

common

To improve the quality of a skill, piece of work, or performance by practising or revising.

"You should polish up your essay before submitting it — the conclusion needs more work."

Grammar: separable

3 B2 idiomatic informal

uncommon

To improve one's personal appearance or public image.

"The candidate polished up her image before the television debate."

Grammar: separable

Usage notes

Used both literally (cleaning and shining an object) and figuratively (improving a skill, presentation, or piece of writing). Common in both British and American English. Often used reflexively: 'polish up one's act' or 'polish up one's image'.

Commonly used with

skills performance presentation image speech shoes

Forms

Base

polish up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

polishes up

he/she/it

Past simple

polished up

yesterday

Past participle

polished up

have + pp

-ing form

polishing up

continuous

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