1 A2 neutral
To cut food or an object into thin pieces or slices.
"She sliced up the baguette and arranged it on a board with the cheese."
separable
slice up
A2 neutral separable transitive
To cut something into slices or portions, or to divide something (abstractly) into sections.
In plain English
Cut something into smaller pieces by making clean cuts.
What does "slice up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To divide something (such as land, a market, or profits) into portions, often aggressively or competitively.
"The two corporations sliced up the emerging market between them, leaving no room for smaller players."
separable
3 B1 neutral
To cut a person or surface with repeated slicing motions (often violent or destructive).
"The broken glass sliced up his hands as he tried to grab it."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cut something up into slices — transparent.
Actually means
Cut something into smaller pieces by making clean cuts.
Usage tip
In its literal sense, extremely common in cooking contexts. In the figurative sense (dividing territory, markets, profits), it carries a slightly aggressive or competitive connotation — as if the thing being divided is being carved up unfairly.
Words that pair with "slice up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
pizza cake market territory bread profits
How to conjugate "slice up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
slice up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slices up
he/she/it
Past simple
sliced up
yesterday
Past participle
sliced up
have + pp
-ing form
slicing up
continuous
Hear "slice up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "slice up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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