hustle up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “hustle up” mean?
To acquire or obtain something, often money or resources, through energetic and determined effort.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To acquire or obtain something, often money or resources, through energetic and determined effort.
To hurriedly prepare or arrange something; to gather or summon something/someone quickly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'hustle' is slightly more prevalent in modern American business/entrepreneurial slang ('side hustle'). 'Hustle up' is understood in both varieties but may sound slightly more American.
Connotations
Can have positive connotations of resourcefulness and initiative, or slightly negative connotations of pressuring someone or being underhanded.
Frequency
Low-medium frequency. More common in spoken, informal contexts than formal writing.
Grammar
How to Use “hustle up” in a Sentence
[SUBJ] hustle up [OBJ] (e.g., We need to hustle up the rent.)[SUBJ] hustle up [OBJ] for [BENEFICIARY] (e.g., He hustled up tickets for the game.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hustle up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Let's hustle up some volunteers for the village fête.
- He managed to hustle up the funds just in time.
American English
- We need to hustle up investors for the startup.
- Can you hustle up a few more chairs from the basement?
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal: 'We need to hustle up some new clients before the quarter ends.'
Academic
Rarely used.
Everyday
Common: 'Can you hustle up some chairs for the guests?'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hustle up”
- Confusing 'hustle up' (obtain) with 'hustle' alone (move/work energetically). 'Hustle up the stairs' is incorrect for this phrasal verb.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and colloquial. Use 'procure', 'acquire', or 'arrange' in formal contexts.
'Hustle' means to move or work energetically and fast. 'Hustle up' is a phrasal verb specifically meaning to obtain or prepare something using that energy.
Yes, it can mean to gather or summon people quickly, e.g., 'Hustle up the team for a meeting.'
Not inherently. It depends on context. It can be positive (resourceful) or imply pressure/manipulation ('hustle up money from relatives').
To acquire or obtain something, often money or resources, through energetic and determined effort.
Hustle up: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌs.əl ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌs.əl ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hustle up some grub.”
- “Hustle up the troops.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a busy waiter needing to 'hustle up' extra chairs for a sudden crowd – moving quickly and purposefully to get what's needed.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESOURCE ACQUISITION IS A PHYSICAL GATHERING/SCRAMBLE.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'He hustled up a great band for the wedding,' what does 'hustled up' mean?