smooth up
C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To make something neater, more refined, or better by smoothing it.
Literal meaning: To smooth a surface in an upward direction or to bring it to a smooth finish.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
To make a surface smoother by rubbing or working over it.
"Use fine sandpaper to smooth up the wood before applying the varnish."
Grammar: separable
2 C1
idiomatic
informal
To refine or polish something — a plan, speech, or presentation — making it more polished.
"Let's smooth up the proposal a bit before we send it to the client."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Not a fully standardized phrasal verb. Used occasionally in craft, DIY, and presentation contexts. Less common than 'smooth out' or 'smooth down'. May be encountered in dialect or regional speech.
Commonly used with
surface edges presentation speech finish wood
Forms
Base
smooth up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
smooths up
he/she/it
Past simple
smoothed up
yesterday
Past participle
smoothed up
have + pp
-ing form
smoothing up
continuous
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