1 C1 idiomatic informal
To become more cheerful; to liven up. (Rare and dialectal.)
"Come on, chip up — the worst of it is over now."
inseparable
chip up
C1 informal intransitive
A rare and non-standard expression meaning to become more cheerful or to speak up.
In plain English
To cheer up, or (rarely) to say something in a conversation.
What does "chip up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Uncommon and not widely recognized. When used, it is usually in a dialectal or dated context. Learners should avoid this form and use 'cheer up,' 'chip in,' or 'speak up' depending on the intended meaning.
How to conjugate "chip up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
chip up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chips up
he/she/it
Past simple
chiped up
yesterday
Past participle
chiped up
have + pp
-ing form
chiping up
continuous
Hear "chip up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "chip up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "chip up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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