# do up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to fasten something like a coat or a bag; it can also mean to repair and decorate an old building.

For teachers: to fasten or secure a garment or container; also used transitively to describe the renovation, repair, or decoration of a structure or object.

## Examples

- Can you help me do up the buttons on my dress?
- They bought a cheap, old house in the countryside and spent the whole summer doing it up.
- After the property was purchased at auction, the developers spent months doing it up to meet modern safety standards and aesthetic trends.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to do up my house's roof." but "I need to do up my house." — you 'do up' the whole object or building, not just a specific part of it, when referring to renovation.

## Usage notes

- often used with clothing items (buttons, zips) or properties (houses, flats).
- Teaching tip: this is a polysemous phrasal verb; use a 'getting ready' context for the fastening sense and a 'home improvement' context for the renovation sense.

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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.