boil up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1 (Intermediate)Neutral, but more common in informal and spoken contexts. The figurative use is common in journalism and everyday speech.
Quick answer
What does “boil up” mean?
To bring a liquid to boiling point, or for a liquid to reach boiling point.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To bring a liquid to boiling point, or for a liquid to reach boiling point; also, to intensify or reach a critical emotional point.
Refers to the process of heating something until it boils, often used in cooking contexts. Figuratively, describes emotions, situations, or tensions escalating to a peak, similar to a liquid boiling over.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar, though the figurative sense might be slightly more common in UK media to describe social unrest.
Connotations
The cooking sense is neutral. The figurative sense carries connotations of unrest, pressure, and impending trouble.
Frequency
Both senses are common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “boil up” in a Sentence
[NP] boil up [NP][NP] boil up[feelings/situation] boil upVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “boil up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'll just boil up the kettle for tea.
- Resentment had been boiling up for years before the strike.
- Let's boil up some pasta for lunch.
American English
- Can you boil up some water for the noodles?
- The controversy is boiling up again on social media.
- He boiled up a simple syrup for the cocktail.
adjective
British English
- The boiled-up fruit makes a great compote. (compound adjective)
- A boiled-up sense of injustice fueled the protest.
American English
- Use the boiled-up liquid from the vegetables as a base. (compound adjective)
- Her boiled-up frustration was obvious.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly used metaphorically for market tensions or disputes.
Academic
Rare in formal writing, but can appear in social sciences describing conflict.
Everyday
Very common, especially for cooking and discussing emotions or local disputes.
Technical
Used in cooking/culinary contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “boil up”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “boil up”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “boil up”
- Using 'boil up' instead of just 'boil' for a state (e.g., 'The water is boiling up' is less common than 'The water is boiling'). Forgetting the particle 'up' in the figurative sense (e.g., 'The tension boiled' is unnatural).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say "Boil the water up" or "Boil up the water." The figurative use is usually not separated (e.g., "Anger boiled up inside him," not "Anger boiled inside him up").
'Boil' refers to the state of being at 100°C. 'Boil up' emphasizes the process of reaching that state or the idea of something accumulating and intensifying, especially in its figurative use.
Not directly. You don't 'boil up a person.' You use it for liquids, emotions, or situations. A person can *feel* something boiling up inside them.
Yes, the past tense and past participle are both 'boiled up.' (e.g., "Yesterday, I boiled up some eggs." "The trouble had boiled up months earlier.")
To bring a liquid to boiling point, or for a liquid to reach boiling point.
Boil up is usually neutral, but more common in informal and spoken contexts. the figurative use is common in journalism and everyday speech. in register.
Boil up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɔɪl ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɔɪl ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Let things boil up”
- “A crisis is boiling up”
- “Boil up into something (e.g., boil up into a riot)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a pot of water on a stove. As the heat increases, bubbles rise UP. Similarly, emotions bubble UP inside until they overflow.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION/STRUGGLE IS A HOT FLUID IN A CONTAINER (e.g., "His anger boiled up").
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'boil up' LEAST likely to be used?