hot up
C1Informal, chiefly British
Definition
Meaning
To become more intense, exciting, or active.
To increase in temperature, speed, or competitive intensity; to become more heated or lively.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in British English. Often describes situations, events, or competitions becoming more lively or intense. Can imply a gradual increase in activity or excitement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Common in British English; rarely used in American English where 'heat up', 'intensify', or 'pick up' are preferred.
Connotations
In British English, often carries a slightly colloquial, vivid tone. In American English, if used, might sound like a Britishism.
Frequency
High frequency in UK informal contexts; very low to zero in general American usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Situation] + is hotting up[It] + hots up[Things] + hot upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The competition is hotting up nicely.”
- “Things are starting to hot up.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal business reports: 'The bidding war is hotting up.'
Academic
Rare; might appear in informal commentary on debates.
Everyday
Common in UK conversation about sports, events, or social situations.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The political campaign is really hotting up now.
- Things always hot up in the last ten minutes of the match.
American English
- The rivalry between the teams began to heat up. (US equivalent)
- The action really picked up in the third quarter. (US equivalent)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The game hotted up in the second half.
- The party started to hot up after midnight.
- The competition for the promotion is hotting up among the senior staff.
- As the election draws nearer, the debate is sure to hot up.
- The takeover battle hotted up considerably after the third bid was announced.
- Negotiations have hotted up following the intervention of the mediator.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pot of water on a stove – as it HOTS UP, the bubbles and activity increase.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTENSITY IS HEAT (a situation gaining heat = gaining intensity).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'нагревать'. Use 'становиться более интенсивным/оживлённым' or 'разгораться'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing (too informal).
- Using it in American English contexts.
- Incorrect conjugation: 'It hot up' instead of 'It hots up'.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'hot up' most commonly and naturally used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal. Avoid it in formal writing and use 'intensify' or 'escalate' instead.
It is very uncommon in American English and may sound odd or like a Britishism. Americans typically say 'heat up' or 'pick up'.
The past tense is 'hotted up' (e.g., 'The debate hotted up yesterday').
No, it rarely refers to literal temperature. It almost always refers to a situation, event, or competition becoming more intense or exciting.