BRUSH UP • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Brush up

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/brəʃ əp/ Listen

verb

Brush v. t. (past & past part. brushed; pres. part. brushing)

To apply a brush to, according to its particular use; to rub, smooth, clean, paint, etc., with a brush. "A' brushes his hat o' mornings."

To touch in passing, or to pass lightly over, as with a brush. "Some spread their sailes, some with strong oars sweep The waters smooth, and brush the buxom wave." "Brushed with the kiss of rustling wings."

To remove or gather by brushing, or by an act like that of brushing, or by passing lightly over, as wind; commonly with off. "As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed With raven's feather from unwholesome fen." "And from the boughts brush off the evil dew."

To brush aside, to remove from one's way, as with a brush.

To brush away, to remove, as with a brush or brushing motion.

To brush up, to paint, or make clean or bright with a brush; to cleanse or improve; to renew. "You have commissioned me to paint your shop, and I have done my best to brush you up like your neighbors."

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Etymology of 'Brush up'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Brush up" Quotes from Famous Books

... the art of talking to the Nassau negro should first brush up on their Bibles; for a pious salutation might almost be said to be Nassau etiquette for opening a conversation. Of course, this applies mainly to negroes or those "conchs" in whom negro blood predominates. The average white man in Nassau must not be considered as implicated in this ...

— Pieces of Eight • Richard le Gallienne

... at rest after some days of trenches, and of course are not sorry to be able to walk about and get a brush up—apart from the catering side, which you can realise is no small item. The weather has been very good of late; and while we were in the trenches it was fine but cold, which makes life more comfortable. We had a new system of guards and work last time, and it was a treat. I ...

— One Young Man • Sir John Ernest Hodder-Williams

... head of the largest table, and in this Farmer Jocelyn seated himself. The men now began to come in from the fields in their work-a-day clothes, escorted by Ned Landon, their only attempt at a toilet having been a wash and brush up in the outhouses; and soon the hall presented a scene of lively bustle and activity. Priscilla, entering it from the kitchen with her two assistants, brought in three huge smoking joints on enormous pewter dishes,—then followed other good things of ...

— Innocent - Her Fancy and His Fact • Marie Corelli

... Latham, whose face had gone pale beneath the growth of beard. "Your task would be to chart the thousands of rogue asteroids that cause havoc in the spacelanes every year. I understand you once knew ray-screens, co-ordinates and parabolics. You could brush up." ...

— One Purple Hope! • Henry Hasse

... must all wash and brush up, for we are invited out to dinner!" Mrs. Clyde departed to suit ...

— Blue Bonnet's Ranch Party • C. E. Jacobs

... answered the other, smiling. "I thought it was not worth while to go to bed, but just gave myself a wash and brush up; and here ...

— Bred in the Bone • James Payn

... general servant's duties commence by opening the shutters (and windows, if the weather permits) of all the lower apartments in the house; she should then brush up her kitchen-range, light the fire, clear away the ashes, clean the hearth, and polish with a leather the bright parts of the range, doing all as rapidly and as vigorously as possible, that no more ...

— The Book of Household Management • Mrs. Isabella Beeton