shed up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Regional (chiefly UK, Australia, New Zealand)
Quick answer
What does “shed up” mean?
To store or secure items, especially tools or equipment, in a shed or similar outbuilding.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To store or secure items, especially tools or equipment, in a shed or similar outbuilding.
To prepare for winter or bad weather by moving vulnerable items into shelter; to tidy or organize by putting things away in a storage building.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Common in UK, Australian, and NZ dialects, especially in rural/domestic contexts. In American English, the concept is more likely expressed with 'put away in the shed' or 'store in the shed'.
Connotations
In the UK, it connotes practical, seasonal gardening/farming preparation. In the US, if used, it might sound like a Britishism or a deliberate colloquialism.
Frequency
Very low frequency in American English; low-to-medium in specific UK contexts (e.g., gardening communities).
Grammar
How to Use “shed up” in a Sentence
[Subject] shed up [Object][Subject] shed [Object] upVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shed up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We should shed up the garden furniture before it frosts.
- I've shedded up all the tools for the night.
American English
- Let's shed up the patio cushions before the rain comes.
- He shed up his fishing gear in the backyard shed.
adjective
British English
- The shed-up lawnmower is safe for winter.
- All the shed-up tools are neatly organised.
American English
- The shed-up bicycles won't get rusty.
- Make sure the furniture is shed-up and covered.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in contexts like garden centre advice or hardware retail.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used in domestic/gardening talk, especially in autumn.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shed up”
- Using 'shed up' to mean 'tear up' or 'get rid of' (confusion with the verb 'to shed').
- Incorrect word order: 'I need to up shed the tools.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a recognised but informal and regional phrasal verb, most common in UK and Commonwealth English. It is not found in most formal dictionaries.
Its core meaning is tied to a shed. However, it can be extended metaphorically to mean storing anything in a secure, designated place, e.g., 'shed up the files in the archive.'
Both 'shed up' and 'shedded up' are used colloquially (e.g., 'I shed up the tools' / 'I shedded up the tools'). 'Shed up' is more common.
No, it is a different lexical item. This 'shed' is the noun for a small building. The phrasal verb is formed from that noun, not from the verb meaning 'to cast off'.
To store or secure items, especially tools or equipment, in a shed or similar outbuilding.
Shed up is usually informal, regional (chiefly uk, australia, new zealand) in register.
Shed up: in British English it is pronounced /ʃɛd ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃɛd ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shed up for the winter.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHED with its door UP, ready to take things in for safekeeping.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER IS SAFETY (putting things 'up' into the container secures them).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'shed up' most appropriately used?