1 A2 neutral
To apply oil to a machine or mechanism to make it work smoothly.
"You should oil up the bike chain before the race."
separable
oil up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To apply oil to something or someone, either to lubricate machinery or to coat the body with oil.
In plain English
To put oil on something — a machine, skin, or food.
What does "oil up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To apply oil to the body, especially before a sports competition, performance, or for cosmetic purposes.
"The bodybuilders oiled themselves up before stepping onto the stage."
separable
3 A2 neutral
To grease a cooking pan or surface with oil to prevent sticking.
"Oil up the baking tray before you put the dough in."
separable
Usage tip
Used in practical/mechanical contexts (lubricating a machine) and also in sporting, cosmetic, or cooking contexts (oiling the body or a pan). The reflexive form 'oil yourself up' is common in bodybuilding.
Words that pair with "oil up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
engine chain pan skin muscle bodybuilder machine
How to conjugate "oil up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
oil up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
oils up
he/she/it
Past simple
oiled up
yesterday
Past participle
oiled up
have + pp
-ing form
oiling up
continuous
Hear "oil up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "oil up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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