1 B1 informal
To cause many bruises on a person's body, or to become covered in bruises.
"She came home from the rugby match completely bruised up."
separable
bruise up
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To cover someone or something with bruises, or to become badly bruised.
In plain English
To get a lot of bruises, or to hurt someone so they get many bruises.
What does "bruise up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Informal and mainly used in American English. Often used in the passive ('all bruised up'). The 'up' suggests completeness — not just a single bruise but being thoroughly bruised.
Words that pair with "bruise up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
legs arms body face ribs skin
How to conjugate "bruise up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bruise up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bruises up
he/she/it
Past simple
bruised up
yesterday
Past participle
bruised up
have + pp
-ing form
bruising up
continuous
Hear "bruise up" in the wild
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