1 B1 informal
To physically attack and beat someone, causing injury.
"He claimed that a group of strangers had bashed him up outside the pub."
separable
bash up
B1 informal separable transitive
To attack and injure someone physically; to damage something through hitting.
In plain English
To hit someone badly and hurt them; to damage something by bashing it.
What does "bash up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 informal
To damage or break something by hitting it repeatedly.
"The kids had bashed up their toys within an hour of getting them."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Transparent — to bash something up, i.e., to hit it until it is damaged.
Actually means
To hit someone badly and hurt them; to damage something by bashing it.
Usage tip
Primarily British informal/slang. Most commonly refers to a physical assault on a person. Less commonly used to describe damage to objects. Can be used as a threat or to describe a past event.
Words that pair with "bash up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
someone face car opponent bully rival
How to conjugate "bash up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bash up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bashes up
he/she/it
Past simple
bashed up
yesterday
Past participle
bashed up
have + pp
-ing form
bashing up
continuous
Hear "bash up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bash up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.