1 C1 idiomatic informal
(Non-standard, very informal) To install or arrange the plumbing in a building
"We need to get the new extension plumbered up before the kitchen fitters arrive."
separable
plumber up
C1 informal separable transitive
To arrange for a plumber to do work, or (rarely) to install plumbing in a building
In plain English
To get a plumber to fix the pipes in a place
What does "plumber up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To set up a plumber's work
Actually means
To get a plumber to fix the pipes in a place
Usage tip
This is a highly informal and non-standard phrasal verb that is rare even in native speaker usage. It is largely unattested in major corpora. ESL learners should note that this construction is not widely recognized and should default to 'install plumbing' or 'get the plumbing done' instead. Included here for completeness.
Words that pair with "plumber up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
house flat bathroom kitchen building
How to conjugate "plumber up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
plumber up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
plumbers up
he/she/it
Past simple
plumbered up
yesterday
Past participle
plumbered up
have + pp
-ing form
plumbering up
continuous
Hear "plumber up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "plumber up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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