Phrasal verb
freshen up
Definitions
01to wash oneself
phr.v. to wash your face and hands, brush your hair, or change clothes to feel clean.
phr.v. to wash or groom oneself briefly to improve one's appearance or sense of hygiene, especially after travel or work.
“I need to freshen up at the hotel before we go out for dinner.”
“After the twelve-hour flight, the delegates requested a few minutes to freshen up before the introductory press conference began.”
Usage
Often used reflexively with 'myself', 'yourself', etc., or as an intransitive verb.
Synonyms
02to renew something
phr.v. to make something feel new, clean, or interesting again.
phr.v. to make something fresh or new again; to revivify a space, object, or concept.
“We decided to freshen up the living room with a coat of white paint.”
“The marketing team suggested freshening up the brand's image with a more contemporary logo and a vibrant colour palette.”
Usage
Transitive; takes a direct object such as a room, a drink, or a design.
Synonyms
Teaching tip
this is a useful 'polite' euphemism; contrast it with 'wash' which sounds more functional and less about the feeling of being 'fresh'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
freshen (+ object) + up
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/freshen-up