# fasten up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to close something completely using buttons, a zipper, or a belt.

For teachers: to secure a garment or container by closing all fasteners; often implies a sense of completion or protection against the elements.

## Examples

- Fasten up your coat before you go outside.
- It is so cold today that you should fasten up your jacket all the way to the top.
- The hikers paused to fasten up their waterproof gear as the first heavy drops of the storm began to fall.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Fasten up you your shoes." but "Fasten up your shoes." — the verb is often used with 'up' to show completion, but the object must follow the phrase or sit between the verb and particle.

## Usage notes

- commonly used with items of clothing like coats, jackets, or bags.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'do up', which is more common in British English; 'fasten up' sounds slightly more deliberate or formal than 'zip up' or 'button up'.

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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.