1 B1 idiomatic informal
(British, informal, often rude) To stop talking; to be quiet.
"The teacher told the noisy students to belt up and get on with their work."
inseparable
belt up
B1 informal inseparable intransitive
Chiefly British: to stop talking and be quiet, or to fasten one's seatbelt.
In plain English
Either 'be quiet!' or 'put on your seatbelt!'
What does "belt up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
(British) To fasten one's seatbelt in a vehicle.
"Belt up, everyone — we're about to pull out of the car park."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fasten a belt tightly — hence both senses: securing a belt or metaphorically 'closing' one's mouth.
Actually means
Either 'be quiet!' or 'put on your seatbelt!'
Usage tip
The 'be quiet' sense is British and can be considered rude or aggressive. The 'seatbelt' sense is also chiefly British; Americans say 'buckle up'. Context makes the meaning clear.
Words that pair with "belt up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
seatbelt car noise complaining children
How to conjugate "belt up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
belt up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
belts up
he/she/it
Past simple
belted up
yesterday
Past participle
belted up
have + pp
-ing form
belting up
continuous
Hear "belt up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "belt up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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