1 B2 neutral
For a liquid to produce foam or froth, or to make a liquid produce foam.
"Froth up the milk with the steamer before pouring it into the espresso."
inseparable
froth up
B2 neutral inseparable transitive/intransitive
To produce or become covered in froth or foam.
In plain English
When a liquid makes lots of little bubbles and gets foamy, like milk when you steam it for a coffee.
What does "froth up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
Figuratively, to become visibly angry, excited, or agitated.
"The commentator was frothing up over the referee's decision."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To produce froth upward — largely transparent.
Actually means
When a liquid makes lots of little bubbles and gets foamy, like milk when you steam it for a coffee.
Usage tip
Used literally in cooking, coffee-making, and natural science contexts. Can also be used figuratively to describe an angry or agitated person 'frothing up' with emotion. The figurative use is informal.
Words that pair with "froth up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
milk beer sea mouth coffee soap
How to conjugate "froth up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
froth up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
froths up
he/she/it
Past simple
frothed up
yesterday
Past participle
frothed up
have + pp
-ing form
frothing up
continuous
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