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zip up

A2 neutral separable both
In simple words

To pull the zip up to close your clothes or a bag, or to tell someone to be quiet

Literal meaning: To move the zip fastener upward, closing the opening

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To fasten a piece of clothing or a bag by pulling the zipper upward

"Zip up your coat before you go outside — it's really cold today."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To tell someone to stop talking; to be quiet (informal, often rude)

"Would you just zip up for five minutes? I'm trying to concentrate."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 neutral

To compress a computer file or folder into a compressed archive format

"Please zip up all the photos before sending them — the file is too large."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The clothing sense is universal and very common. The 'be quiet' sense ('zip it up' / 'zip up') is informal and slightly rude. Common in everyday British and American English.

Commonly used with

jacket bag tent dress coat boots

Forms

Base
zip up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
zips up
he/she/it
Past simple
ziped up
yesterday
Past participle
ziped up
have + pp
-ing form
ziping up
continuous

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Synonyms

do up fasten close seal shut button up

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