tat up
C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To fill a place with cheap, ugly stuff that makes it look worse.
Literal meaning: To fill up with tat (cheap, low-quality goods).
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To fill or decorate a place with cheap, tacky, or low-quality objects, making it look worse.
"They've completely tatted up the town square with cheap plastic decorations."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
British English slang. Derived from 'tat' (BrE), meaning cheap or low-quality goods. Has a negative connotation, suggesting poor taste. Rarely used outside British informal speech.
Commonly used with
house room market souvenirs place stall
Forms
Base
tat up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tats up
he/she/it
Past simple
tated up
yesterday
Past participle
tated up
have + pp
-ing form
tating up
continuous
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