1 C1 informal
(Informal/non-standard) To shave and tidy one's appearance before going out or meeting someone.
"You'd better shave up before the interview — you look scruffy."
inseparable
shave up
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
A non-standard and rare expression occasionally used to mean to shave or groom oneself, or to tidy up one's appearance by shaving.
In plain English
To shave and make yourself look neat and tidy.
What does "shave up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To shave in an upward direction — as in moving the razor upward during shaving.
Actually means
To shave and make yourself look neat and tidy.
Usage tip
Not a recognized standard phrasal verb. Occasionally heard in informal speech meaning to groom oneself by shaving, similar to 'clean up' or 'smarten up'. Learners should prefer 'shave' or 'shave off' for clarity.
Words that pair with "shave up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
face beard stubble
How to conjugate "shave up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
shave up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
shaves up
he/she/it
Past simple
shaved up
yesterday
Past participle
shaved up
have + pp
-ing form
shaving up
continuous
Hear "shave up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "shave up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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