1 B2 neutral
To become wet and slushy, as snow or ice partially melts.
"The snow on the pavement had slushed up overnight and made walking dangerous."
inseparable
slush up
C1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To become or make something wet, slushy, or overly sentimental.
In plain English
To turn into a wet, snowy mush, or to make something overly mushy and sentimental.
What does "slush up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
(Informal, British) To become or make overly sentimental or emotionally soft.
"The romantic subplot really slushed up what was otherwise a tough action film."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fill up with slush (semi-melted snow or watery mud).
Actually means
To turn into a wet, snowy mush, or to make something overly mushy and sentimental.
Usage tip
Relatively rare. Used either literally (snow or ice turning to slush) or informally in British English to describe someone or something becoming excessively sentimental. The sentimental sense is very informal and colloquial.
Words that pair with "slush up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
snow ice roads film story speech
How to conjugate "slush up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
slush up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slushes up
he/she/it
Past simple
slushed up
yesterday
Past participle
slushed up
have + pp
-ing form
slushing up
continuous
Hear "slush up" in the wild
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