1 B2 informal
to make tea
"I'll brew up while you set the table."
both
brew up
B2 informal both transitive/intransitive
to make tea, or for trouble or bad weather to start developing
In plain English
to make tea, or to start building up
What does "brew up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
to begin to develop or build up, especially something unpleasant such as trouble or bad weather
"A nasty argument was brewing up by the time the manager arrived."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to prepare by steeping and building up
Actually means
to make tea, or to start building up
Usage tip
Especially common in British English for making tea. The figurative sense is less common and often appears with trouble, a storm, or tension.
Words that pair with "brew up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tea a storm trouble weather argument tension
How to conjugate "brew up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
brew up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
brews up
he/she/it
Past simple
brewed up
yesterday
Past participle
brewed up
have + pp
-ing form
brewing up
continuous
Hear "brew up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "brew up"
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