ENGLISH
REFERENCE

feed up

phr. v..
C1 Advanced Oxford British English Informal

phr. v.. to give someone a lot of good food so they become healthier or heavier.

phr. v.. to provide a person or animal with a high-calorie or nutrient-dense diet, typically to restore health or increase body mass.


SIMPLE

His grandmother tried to feed him up during the holidays.

CONTEXTUAL

After his long illness, his parents did their best to feed him up with homemade soups and bread.

COMPLEX

The livestock were fed up on high-quality grain in preparation for the winter months when grazing would be scarce.

Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
feed (+ object) + up
Usage

often used in the passive voice or with a person as the direct object.

Teaching tip

distinguish from 'feed' (general) and 'be fed up with' (annoyed); this phrasal verb focuses on the result of becoming stronger or fatter.

Pitfall

I am feed up with this rain.I am fed up with this rain.do not confuse 'feed up' (to nourish) with the idiomatic 'be fed up with' (to be annoyed), which always uses the past participle.

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