washing-up
B1Neutral, slightly informal. Common in domestic and family contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The act of cleaning dirty plates, pans, cutlery, and other kitchen items after a meal.
The collection of dirty dishes needing to be cleaned after a meal; by extension, can refer to any related chores or the area (e.g., a sink) where this is done.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A hyphenated compound noun. The concept can be metonymically extended to the task itself ("Whose turn is the washing-up?") or the items to be washed ("I'll put the washing-up away").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'washing-up' is the standard term for the task and the items. In American English, the equivalent term is usually 'washing (the) dishes' or just 'dishes' (e.g., 'do the dishes'). 'Washing-up' is not standard in AmE.
Connotations
In BrE, it carries domestic, everyday connotations. The associated liquid is 'washing-up liquid' (AmE: 'dish soap').
Frequency
Very frequent in BrE domestic contexts. Rare to non-existent in AmE outside of BrE-influenced speakers or media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
do + the + washing-uphelp with + the + washing-upleave + the + washing-up + for someonea pile/mound of + washing-upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's your lot! (i.e., the washing-up is your job now)”
- “It's a dishwasher's nightmare (for a large pile of washing-up)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable, unless in a very specific context (e.g., domestic appliance manufacturing).
Academic
Very rare. Might appear in sociological studies of household labour division.
Everyday
Very common in home, family, and shared-living situations.
Technical
Used in product descriptions for detergents ('washing-up liquid') and sinks.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you wash up after dinner?
- I'll wash up if you dry.
American English
- Could you wash the dishes?
- I'll wash them if you put them away.
adjective
British English
- We need more washing-up liquid.
- Pass me the washing-up bowl.
American English
- We need more dish soap.
- Pass me the dishpan.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I help my mum with the washing-up.
- We use washing-up liquid.
- Can you do the washing-up tonight? I cooked.
- There's a huge pile of washing-up in the sink.
- We've established a rota to ensure the washing-up is shared fairly.
- The new eco-friendly washing-up liquid is very effective.
- The sociological study examined the gendered division of household labour, focusing on tasks like the washing-up.
- He volunteered for the washing-up duty, seeing it as a form of mindful meditation after the lively dinner party.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone washing plates and stacking them UP on the draining board. The action is 'washing' and the direction is 'up' (onto the rack).
Conceptual Metaphor
CHORES ARE BURDENS ("a mountain of washing-up"), FAIRNESS IS TAKING TURNS ("It's your turn for the washing-up").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as '*мойка-вверх' or '*стирка-наверх'. The concept is 'мытьё посуды'.
- Confusing with 'laundry' (стирка). 'Washing-up' is ONLY for dishes.
- Avoid using it in an American context where 'doing the dishes' is expected.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'washing-up' as a verb (e.g., *'I am washing-upping'). The verb is 'to wash up'.
- Using it without the hyphen, which is the standard spelling for the noun.
- Using it to refer to laundry or personal washing.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is most likely to be used by a British speaker?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'washing-up' is a hyphenated noun. The related phrasal verb is 'to wash up' (in BrE).
Americans typically say 'doing the dishes', 'washing the dishes', or just 'the dishes'.
It is the British term for the liquid soap used for washing dishes by hand. The American equivalent is 'dish soap'.
No, never. 'Washing-up' exclusively refers to cleaning dishes, pots, and cutlery. Laundry is 'washing' or 'the laundry'.