# spruce up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spruce-up
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to make a person or place look cleaner, tidier, or more attractive.

For teachers: to improve the appearance of a person or thing through cleaning, decorating, or grooming. Often implies a quick or superficial enhancement rather than a structural overhaul.

## Examples

- We should spruce up the living room before the guests arrive.
- She decided to spruce up her old bike with a fresh coat of bright blue paint.
- The city council launched an initiative to spruce up the historic district ahead of the international summit, focusing primarily on facade restoration and landscaping.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to spruce my office up." but "I need to spruce up my office." — While 'spruce up' is technically separable, it is much more common and natural to keep the verb and particle together before the object.

## Usage notes

- often used with rooms, gardens, or personal appearance; can be used with or without a reflexive pronoun.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'renovate' or 'remodel' to show that 'spruce up' is usually about aesthetics and tidiness rather than major construction.

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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.