1 B2 neutral
(Medical) To wash hands and arms thoroughly with antiseptic before a surgical operation
"All members of the surgical team scrubbed up before entering the operating theatre."
inseparable
scrub up
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To wash oneself thoroughly, especially before a medical procedure or to look presentable
In plain English
To wash yourself really well so you look clean and tidy, or before doing medical work
What does "scrub up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
(British informal) To wash and dress smartly, making oneself look noticeably attractive or well-presented
"You scrub up really well — I barely recognised you in that suit!"
“
He scrubs up well, doesn't he?
inseparable
3 B1 neutral
To wash or clean something vigorously until it is thoroughly clean
"She scrubbed up the old pots until they were gleaming."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To scrub (wash hard) oneself up to a cleaner state — fairly transparent
Actually means
To wash yourself really well so you look clean and tidy, or before doing medical work
Usage tip
Has two main senses: the medical one (washing hands and arms before surgery) and the informal British English sense of cleaning up and looking smart or attractive. The latter is often used as a compliment: 'You scrub up well!'
Words that pair with "scrub up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
well nicely surgeon hands before presentation
How to conjugate "scrub up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
scrub up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scrubs up
he/she/it
Past simple
scrubed up
yesterday
Past participle
scrubed up
have + pp
-ing form
scrubing up
continuous
Hear "scrub up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "scrub up"
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