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trim up

B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To cut or tidy something to make it look neat and clean.

Literal meaning: To cut the edges or sides of something upward to make it look neat.

Meanings

1 B2 informal

To make something look neater and tidier by cutting or shaping its edges.

"He trimmed up his beard before the job interview."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To decorate or adorn something, giving it a finished, polished look.

"They trimmed up the shop windows with festive lights and ribbons."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Commonly used for haircuts, beards, hedges, and nails. Slightly less common than 'trim' alone or 'tidy up'. Suggests making something look cleaner and more presentable rather than drastically changing it.

Commonly used with

beard hair hedge nails edges lawn

Forms

Base
trim up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
trims up
he/she/it
Past simple
trimed up
yesterday
Past participle
trimed up
have + pp
-ing form
triming up
continuous

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Synonyms

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