tone up
B2 neutral separable both
In simple words
To make your muscles stronger and your body look more fit.
Literal meaning: To raise the tone of muscles upward toward a better state.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To make muscles firmer and more defined through regular exercise.
"She started swimming three times a week to tone up her arms and shoulders."
Grammar: separable
2 C1
idiomatic
neutral
To improve the overall effectiveness or strength of a system, organisation, or plan.
"The new director promised to tone up the company's management structure."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Very common in fitness and health contexts. Usually used about the body or specific muscle groups. The intransitive use ('I've been toning up') is natural. Sometimes used figuratively to mean strengthening a system or organisation.
Commonly used with
muscles body abs legs arms physique
Forms
Base
tone up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tones up
he/she/it
Past simple
toned up
yesterday
Past participle
toned up
have + pp
-ing form
toning up
continuous
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