1 B2 informal
To create a soapy foam or lather, especially before or during washing.
"He sudded up the sponge and started scrubbing the car."
inseparable
suds up
B2 informal inseparable transitive/intransitive
To create a soapy lather or foam by mixing soap with water, especially in preparation for washing.
In plain English
Add soap to water and make lots of bubbles, ready for washing.
What does "suds up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To suds (produce suds/bubbles) up — creating the foamy suds that come from soap and water.
Actually means
Add soap to water and make lots of bubbles, ready for washing.
Usage tip
Chiefly American informal. Used for washing dishes, cars, or the body. Can be reflexive ('suds up' before shampooing). Less formal than 'create a lather'. Often evokes images of washing cars or doing dishes.
Words that pair with "suds up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sponge dishes car hair hands bucket
How to conjugate "suds up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
suds up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sudses up
he/she/it
Past simple
sudsed up
yesterday
Past participle
sudsed up
have + pp
-ing form
sudsing up
continuous
Hear "suds up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "suds up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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