# coil up

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/coil-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

to make, or become, coiled

## Examples

- The snake will coil up to sleep in the sun.
- When the cat feels cold, it likes to coil up on the soft rug by the fireplace.
- The frightened animal began to coil up into a tight ball, shielding its vulnerable underside from the predator circling above.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.