bone up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal
Quick answer
What does “bone up” mean?
To study hard or intensively, especially in preparation for a test or exam.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To study hard or intensively, especially in preparation for a test or exam.
To review or learn a subject thoroughly, often in a short period of time; to refresh one's knowledge.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties with similar meaning and frequency. No significant structural differences.
Connotations
Informal and slightly dated in both varieties. Can sound humorous or self-deprecating.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English, but well-understood in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “bone up” in a Sentence
bone up on [subject/topic]bone up for [event/test]bone up before [event]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bone up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I need to bone up on EU tax law before the consultancy interview.
- He's boning up for his motorcycle theory test.
American English
- She boned up on constitutional law before the debate.
- We should bone up on the client's portfolio before the meeting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"I need to bone up on the new regulations before the audit next week."
Academic
"She's boning up on her chemistry formulas for the final."
Everyday
"You'd better bone up on local road signs before your driving test."
Technical
Rarely used in highly technical writing; preferred in spoken, informal contexts among colleagues.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bone up”
- Incorrect: 'I must bone up my history.' Correct: 'I must bone up ON my history.'
- Using it in overly formal contexts.
- Confusing it with 'brush up', which implies refreshing existing knowledge more than intensive new learning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal. Avoid it in formal reports or academic writing.
'Bone up' often implies intensive, perhaps new learning, like studying for a test. 'Brush up' usually means refreshing or improving existing, slightly rusty knowledge.
No, it is a phrasal verb that requires 'on' when followed by the subject of study (e.g., bone up on history).
It is understood by all ages but may sound a bit old-fashioned to younger speakers, who might prefer 'cram' or simply 'study hard'.
To study hard or intensively, especially in preparation for a test or exam.
Bone up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbəʊn ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌboʊn ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hit the books”
- “cram for an exam”
- “swot up”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a dog diligently gnawing on a BONE to get every last bit. Similarly, you 'bone up' by chewing through study material to extract all the knowledge.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEARNING IS EXCAVATING/DIGESTING (digging into material, consuming knowledge).
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition typically follows 'bone up'?