zap up
B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To make something hot quickly in a microwave, or to make something more exciting and full of energy.
Meanings
1 A2
idiomatic
informal
To heat food quickly in a microwave oven.
"Just zap up the leftovers for a few minutes and dinner is ready."
Grammar: separable
2 B1
idiomatic
informal
To make something more exciting, energetic, or visually striking.
"They hired a designer to zap up the look of their website."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
The microwave sense is very common in informal everyday English, especially American English. The 'make more exciting' sense is less common. 'Zap' on its own already means to use a microwave; 'zap up' adds a sense of completeness or intensification.
Commonly used with
food leftovers soup meal design presentation
Forms
Base
zap up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
zaps up
he/she/it
Past simple
zaped up
yesterday
Past participle
zaped up
have + pp
-ing form
zaping up
continuous
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