1 C1 informal
To cause injuries that result in visible bleeding on a person or surface.
"The fall off the bike bloodied up his knees and elbows."
separable
bloody up
C1 informal separable transitive
To make something or someone covered in blood, usually through injury.
In plain English
To get blood all over something or to hurt someone so they bleed.
What does "bloody up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 informal
To stain or cover something with blood.
"He bloodied up the whole bathroom trying to deal with the cut himself."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make something bloody — i.e., covered or stained with blood.
Actually means
To get blood all over something or to hurt someone so they bleed.
Usage tip
Informal and vivid. Used in both literal (injury) and figurative (damaging) senses. More common in American English. Can be used about objects (clothes, a room) or people.
Words that pair with "bloody up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
face nose clothes hands knuckles shirt
How to conjugate "bloody up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bloody up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bloodies up
he/she/it
Past simple
bloodied up
yesterday
Past participle
bloodied up
have + pp
-ing form
bloodying up
continuous
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