What does "lather up" mean (sense 1)?

To apply soap, shampoo, or shaving cream and rub it to produce a thick foam on skin or hair. Example: "Lather up the shampoo well before rinsing it out thoroughly."

What does "lather up" mean (sense 2)?

(Figurative) To become or cause someone to become very excited, agitated, or emotionally worked up. Example: "The commentator was getting all lathered up over a decision that would have no impact on the final result."

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lather up

B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive

To apply soap or shampoo and work it into a foam; or figuratively, to become excited, agitated, or worked up.

In plain English

To rub soap on yourself until it gets all bubbly and foamy; or to get really excited or upset about something.

What does "lather up" mean?

2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 A2 neutral

common

To apply soap, shampoo, or shaving cream and rub it to produce a thick foam on skin or hair.

"Lather up the shampoo well before rinsing it out thoroughly."

separable

2 B2 idiomatic informal

uncommon

(Figurative) To become or cause someone to become very excited, agitated, or emotionally worked up.

"The commentator was getting all lathered up over a decision that would have no impact on the final result."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

Transparent in the literal sense — to create a lather (foam) by rubbing soap, and to build it 'up' into a rich foam.

Actually means

To rub soap on yourself until it gets all bubbly and foamy; or to get really excited or upset about something.

Usage tip

The literal sense is common in everyday and advertising language ('lather up with this shampoo'). The figurative sense ('get lathered up') is informal and can mean either excited or angry/flustered. Originally, a horse in a lather was sweating heavily from exertion.

Words that pair with "lather up"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

soap shampoo beard hair skin crowd

How to conjugate "lather up"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

lather up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

lathers up

he/she/it

Past simple

lathered up

yesterday

Past participle

lathered up

have + pp

-ing form

lathering up

continuous

Hear "lather up" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "lather up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "lather up"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

foam up get worked up soap up whip into a lather work up

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "lather" All phrasal verbs with "up" More B1-level phrasal verbs