1 B2 neutral
To paint a building or object to improve or refresh its appearance.
"They painted up the old seafront cottages in bright colours before the tourist season began."
separable
paint up
B2 informal separable transitive
To decorate or improve the appearance of something by painting it; to apply make-up heavily.
In plain English
Make something look nicer by painting it, or put on a lot of make-up.
What does "paint up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
(Dated, informal) To apply a lot of make-up or cosmetics to one's face.
"She painted herself up for the evening, red lipstick and all."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To paint something so it looks 'up' (improved) — fairly transparent.
Actually means
Make something look nicer by painting it, or put on a lot of make-up.
Usage tip
Less common than 'paint up' in everyday usage. The make-up sense is somewhat dated and can be dismissive. More commonly heard in the context of property renovation.
Words that pair with "paint up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
house fence face building boat shop
How to conjugate "paint up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
paint up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
paints up
he/she/it
Past simple
painted up
yesterday
Past participle
painted up
have + pp
-ing form
painting up
continuous
Hear "paint up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "paint up"
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