sober up
B1 informal separable both
In simple words
To stop being drunk and go back to feeling normal.
Literal meaning: To become sober going upward to normality — fairly transparent.
Meanings
1 B1 informal
To recover from the effects of alcohol and become clear-headed again.
"He drank several glasses of water and waited for the fresh air to sober him up."
"Sober up and come home."
— The Rolling Stones, 'Sway', Sticky Fingers (1971)
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To become more serious, realistic, or grounded after a period of excitement, optimism, or illusion.
"The company's falling profits quickly sobered up the new investors."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Very common in everyday conversation. Can be used intransitively ('he needs to sober up') or transitively ('black coffee won't sober you up any faster'). Also used figuratively to mean becoming more serious or realistic.
Commonly used with
coffee water time drunk quickly reality
Forms
Base
sober up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sobers up
he/she/it
Past simple
sobered up
yesterday
Past participle
sobered up
have + pp
-ing form
sobering up
continuous
Understand "sober up" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Synonyms
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "sober up" on Looplines