# big up

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/big-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to praise someone or something a lot to make them seem important or successful.

For teachers: to promote or praise someone or something enthusiastically; often used in informal or colloquial registers to build reputation or status.

## Examples

- He always tries to big up his hometown.
- The host took a moment to big up the local artists who helped organize the festival.
- While the marketing team attempted to big up the new software's capabilities, the initial user reviews suggested a far more modest reality.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He bigged up to his friend." but "He bigged up his friend." — this is a transitive phrasal verb and requires a direct object without an extra preposition like 'to'.

## Usage notes

- highly informal and often associated with British slang or urban dialects.
- Teaching tip: this phrase is excellent for teaching register; contrast it with formal synonyms like 'extol' or 'promote' to show how social context dictates word choice.

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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.