Phrasal verb
do up
Meanings
To fasten clothing or something that opens and closes (by buttoning, zipping, etc.).
To wrap, tie, or prepare something so it is neatly packaged or ready to give or send.
To renovate, repair, or improve a building, room, or vehicle.
Definition
To do up means to fasten something like clothing or to make something neat, repaired, or improved.
To do up is often used to mean fastening something, such as buttoning a coat or zipping a jacket. It can also mean wrapping or tying something so it is ready, like a parcel. Another common meaning is renovating or improving a room, building, or vehicle to make it look better or work better.
Examples
- I forgot to do up my jacket before I went outside.
- Can you do up the parcel with some tape?
- He did up his shirt buttons before the meeting started.
- We’re doing up the kitchen this weekend.
- They paid someone to do up the old van for road trips.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse do up (fasten/renovate) with make up (invent or reconcile) and use the wrong verb.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.