1 B2 informal
To drink large amounts of alcohol, especially at a social event.
"They spent the whole weekend boozing up at the stag party."
inseparable
booze up
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To drink large amounts of alcohol, often at a party or social gathering; also a noun referring to such an occasion.
In plain English
To drink a lot of alcohol at a party or get-together; or the party itself where lots of alcohol is drunk.
What does "booze up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
(Noun: a booze-up) A party or social occasion at which a lot of alcohol is consumed.
"The office Christmas party turned into a proper booze-up by nine o'clock."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fill yourself up with booze (alcohol) — 'up' gives the sense of excess or completion.
Actually means
To drink a lot of alcohol at a party or get-together; or the party itself where lots of alcohol is drunk.
Usage tip
Common in British and Australian English. As a verb, it means to drink heavily. As a noun ('a booze-up'), it refers to a party or occasion characterised by heavy drinking. Often used with a mix of humour and mild disapproval. 'Booze' itself is informal slang for alcohol.
Words that pair with "booze up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
party night office Christmas session friends
How to conjugate "booze up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
booze up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
boozes up
he/she/it
Past simple
boozed up
yesterday
Past participle
boozed up
have + pp
-ing form
boozing up
continuous
Hear "booze up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "booze 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.