rustle up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To quickly make something to eat, or to find or organise something fast, usually with whatever you have available
Literal meaning: To rustle (make a soft sound while moving quickly) and bring something up — the idiom comes from cattle rustling (stealing livestock) extended to quick improvisation
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To prepare a meal or snack quickly, especially with whatever ingredients are available
"Give me ten minutes and I'll rustle up some pasta with whatever's in the fridge."
Grammar: separable
2 C1
idiomatic
informal
To gather, find, or organise something or someone quickly
"Can you rustle up a few volunteers for the event this weekend?"
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Strongly associated with food preparation in informal British English. The image is of a cowboy rustling up a meal at a campfire. Also used for quickly organising people or support.
Commonly used with
meal food dinner volunteers support snack
Forms
Base
rustle up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rustles up
he/she/it
Past simple
rustled up
yesterday
Past participle
rustled up
have + pp
-ing form
rustling up
continuous
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