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stoke up

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To make a fire bigger by adding more fuel, or to make feelings or problems get much stronger.

Literal meaning: To add coal or fuel to a fire or furnace to make it burn more strongly.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To add fuel to a fire or furnace to make it burn more intensely.

"He stoked up the campfire to keep everyone warm through the cold night."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To intensify emotions, fears, or tensions, often deliberately.

"The tabloid headlines stoked up public anxiety about crime."

Grammar: separable
3 C1 idiomatic informal

To eat or drink a lot in order to prepare for physical activity (informal).

"The cyclists stoked up on pasta the night before the long race."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Derived from 'stoking' a furnace or fire. Commonly used figuratively to describe intensifying emotions like anger, fear, or enthusiasm. Also used literally for fires and furnaces.

Commonly used with

fire furnace fears anger tensions enthusiasm

Forms

Base
stoke up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stokes up
he/she/it
Past simple
stoked up
yesterday
Past participle
stoked up
have + pp
-ing form
stoking up
continuous

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