ginger up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 - Low Frequency (primarily British English; somewhat dated/informal)Informal, slightly dated, often journalistic or figurative.
Quick answer
What does “ginger up” mean?
To enliven, stimulate, or make something more interesting, active, or exciting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To enliven, stimulate, or make something more interesting, active, or exciting.
To invigorate a person, activity, or situation by adding enthusiasm, energy, or a new element; to pep up or put some life into.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrasal verb 'ginger up' is predominantly British. American English speakers would likely understand it in context but are far less likely to use it spontaneously.
Connotations
In British English, it has a slightly old-fashioned, quaint, or journalistic feel (e.g., used in newspaper headlines). It's not considered modern slang.
Frequency
Very low frequency in American English. In British English, it is a recognizable but not common expression, often found in writing more than speech.
Grammar
How to Use “ginger up” in a Sentence
[Subject] ginger up [Object] (e.g., The manager gingered up the team.)Need/Attempt to ginger up [Object] (e.g., They tried to ginger up interest.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ginger up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The coach's half-time talk really gingered up the players.
- The newspaper editorial called for measures to ginger up the housing market.
American English
- (Less common) The event planner suggested a live band to ginger up the reception.
- He used bold graphics to ginger up his presentation.
adverb
British English
- N/A for the phrasal verb. The related adverb is 'gingerly' (cautiously).
American English
- N/A for the phrasal verb. The related adverb is 'gingerly' (cautiously).
adjective
British English
- N/A for the phrasal verb. The adjective is 'ginger' (hair, spice).
American English
- N/A for the phrasal verb. The adjective is 'ginger' (hair, spice).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The new marketing campaign should ginger up sales for the quarter.'
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical/social analysis: 'The reform was intended to ginger up the sluggish bureaucracy.'
Everyday
'We need some music to ginger up this party—it's a bit flat.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ginger up”
- Using 'ginger' as a verb alone (e.g., 'I will ginger the team' is incorrect; must be 'ginger up').
- Confusing it with 'gingerly' (which means cautiously).
- Overusing in American contexts where 'pep up' or 'liven up' is more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and can sound slightly old-fashioned or journalistic.
It is understood but rarely used. Americans are more likely to say 'pep up', 'liven up', or 'jump-start'.
It comes from the idea of ginger as a spice that adds piquancy and heat to food, metaphorically extended to adding liveliness to other things (late 19th century).
No, they are false friends. 'Gingerly' comes from a different root meaning 'elegantly, daintily', now 'cautiously'. 'Ginger up' comes directly from the spice.
To enliven, stimulate, or make something more interesting, active, or exciting.
Ginger up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒɪndʒər ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒɪndʒər ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To put some ginger into something (related idiom).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of adding powdered GINGER to a bland dish to SPICE IT UP. To 'ginger up' something is to add figurative spice or energy to it.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENERGY/EXCITEMENT IS SPICE (Adding spice makes food more exciting; adding 'ginger' makes a situation more lively).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ginger up' most appropriately used?