# swell up

idiom

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

## Meaning

To become swollen

## Examples

- My ankle started to swell up after I twisted it.
- If you get a bad bee sting, the area will likely swell up and become quite painful.
- Following the intense allergic reaction, the patient noticed his throat begin to swell up, necessitating an immediate trip to the emergency room.

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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.