1 B1 neutral
To gently absorb or collect drops of a liquid from a surface using a cloth, tissue, or sponge.
"Dab up any excess egg wash from the pastry edges before baking."
separable
dab up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To absorb or collect a small amount of liquid from a surface using gentle dabbing motions.
In plain English
To pick up a little bit of liquid by pressing something soft on it.
What does "dab up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
(Informal, UK slang) To greet someone with a fist bump or special handshake. Variant of 'dap up'.
"He dabbed up his mate as soon as he walked through the door."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To dab something and bring it up (off the surface).
Actually means
To pick up a little bit of liquid by pressing something soft on it.
Usage tip
Often used in cooking, beauty, and medical contexts. Suggests care and precision — the amount being removed is typically small. More common in British English informal contexts.
Words that pair with "dab up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
blood grease excess oil tears spill moisture
How to conjugate "dab up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
dab up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dabs up
he/she/it
Past simple
dabed up
yesterday
Past participle
dabed up
have + pp
-ing form
dabing up
continuous
Hear "dab up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "dab up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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