English Reference
Idiom idiom

coil up


to make, or become, coiled

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The snake will coil up to sleep in the sun.

CONTEXTUAL

When the cat feels cold, it likes to coil up on the soft rug by the fireplace.

COMPLEX

The frightened animal began to coil up into a tight ball, shielding its vulnerable underside from the predator circling above.


Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    shuffle off this mortal coil

    To die; to divest oneself of one's mortal body.

Last updated August 10, 2026