brushup: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, semi-formal
Quick answer
What does “brushup” mean?
A quick improvement or renewal of one's knowledge or skill in something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A quick improvement or renewal of one's knowledge or skill in something.
A minor, non-comprehensive review or polishing of something; a freshening up. Also, an act of tidying or cleaning superficially.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference for hyphenation in British English ('brush-up') as a noun, though solid form is common in both. The phrasal verb 'brush up on' is identical in use. The noun 'brushup' is slightly more frequent in American English corpora.
Connotations
Identical connotations of quick, informal review.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both varieties, more common in spoken and informal written contexts than in highly formal prose.
Grammar
How to Use “brushup” in a Sentence
[Subject] needs/gets/has a brushup.[Subject] gives [Object] a brushup.[Subject] brushes up on [Object].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brushup” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I must brush up on my tennis before the tournament.
- She's brushing up her German for the relocation.
American English
- I need to brush up on my Excel skills.
- He's brushing up his resume before applying.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used before presentations or meetings: 'I need a brushup on the Q3 figures.'
Academic
Common before exams or revisiting a subject: 'Attending a brushup session on calculus.'
Everyday
Very common for skills like driving, languages, cooking: 'A quick brushup on my French before the trip.'
Technical
Less common, but possible for software or procedural reviews: 'A safety procedure brushup.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brushup”
- Using it for learning something completely new ('I need a brushup on Chinese' when you've never studied it).
- Confusing 'brushup' (n) with 'brush up' (v) + 'on'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun, it is commonly written as one word ('brushup') or hyphenated ('brush-up'), especially in British English. The phrasal verb is always two words: 'brush up' (followed by 'on').
The standard preposition is 'on'. You brush up ON a subject or skill (e.g., brush up on French, brush up on driving).
Yes, but this is less common. It can mean a quick tidy or superficial clean (e.g., 'give the room a quick brushup'), though 'tidy-up' or 'clean-up' are more frequent for physical spaces.
It is informal to semi-formal. In very formal academic or technical writing, synonyms like 'review', 'refresher', or 'revision' might be preferred.
A quick improvement or renewal of one's knowledge or skill in something.
Brushup: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrʌʃʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrəʃˌəp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Brush up on your skills.”
- “Give it a quick brushup.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of brushing dust off an old skill to make it shine again.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY IS A SURFACE (that can be polished or cleaned).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'brushup' CORRECTLY?