1 C1 idiomatic slang
to dress or style someone in a way seen as trashy, cheap, or overly sexual
"The magazine photo shoot skanked up her image far more than she wanted."
both
skank up
C1 slang both transitive/intransitive
to make someone or something look cheap, trashy, or sexually provocative
In plain English
to make it look bad and cheap in a sexy way
What does "skank up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Highly informal and offensive in many contexts. Usually used critically and can be insulting, especially about appearance.
Words that pair with "skank up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
outfit look makeup style image
How to conjugate "skank up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
skank up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
skanks up
he/she/it
Past simple
skanked up
yesterday
Past participle
skanked up
have + pp
-ing form
skanking up
continuous
Hear "skank up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "skank up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "skank up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.