1 B1 idiomatic neutral
To improve or refresh a skill or area of knowledge that has become rusty through lack of practice.
"I need to brush up on my Spanish before the trip to Mexico."
separable
brush up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To revise or practise a skill or area of knowledge in order to regain or improve your ability in it.
In plain English
To practise something you already know but have forgotten or not used for a while.
What does "brush up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To clean or smarten up one's appearance by brushing clothes or hair.
"She quickly brushed herself up before answering the door."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To clean or polish something with a brush to restore its shine — extended to refreshing skills and knowledge.
Actually means
To practise something you already know but have forgotten or not used for a while.
Usage tip
Very common in everyday and educational English. Almost always followed by 'on' when the object is a topic ('brush up on your French') or used reflexively ('brush up your skills'). The 'up' suggests the idea of polishing or bringing something back up to a good standard.
Words that pair with "brush up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
skills language grammar knowledge French maths
How to conjugate "brush up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
brush up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
brushes up
he/she/it
Past simple
brushed up
yesterday
Past participle
brushed up
have + pp
-ing form
brushing up
continuous
Hear "brush up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "brush up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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