# duff up

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to beat someone up or hit them many times. You use this when someone gets into a physical fight and wins easily.

For teachers: to physically assault or beat someone; a transitive phrasal verb marked for British informal register, often implying a one-sided or punitive physical confrontation.

## Examples

- He threatened to duff up anyone who touched his bike.
- The school bully was known for trying to duff up the younger kids behind the gym after class.
- The protagonist narrowly avoids being duffed up by a group of local thugs after a misunderstanding in the pub.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He duffed up to the man." but "He duffed the man up." — the verb is transitive and requires a direct object; 'to' should not be used before the person being hit.

## Usage notes

- usually takes a person as the direct object and is strictly informal.
- Teaching tip: this is a highly regional British term; compare it with the more universal 'beat up' or the American 'rough up' to show how slang varies across dialects.

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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.