beef up — to make something stronger, more powerful, or more substantial
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make something stronger, more powerful, or more substantial
Pronunciation (IPA): /biːf ʌp/
Example Sentences
- The restaurant decided to beef up their menu with more vegetarian options.
- We need to beef up our presentation before tomorrow's meeting.
- The coach wants to beef up the defense before the championship game.
beef up
VERB[/biːf ʌp/]
to make something stronger, more powerful, or more substantial
The chief ups the spirit as they reef up the ocean!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrasal verb emerged in 20th-century American slang, derived from 'beef' as a colloquial term for muscular strength or power. The phrase developed as a figurative extension meaning 'to strengthen' or 'to enhance' by analogy with physical muscle development.
Breakdown
beef (muscle, strength, power) + up (upward direction, increase). The morphology combines a noun denoting physical strength with an adverbial particle to create a verb meaning 'to increase or reinforce'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The restaurant decided to beef up their menu with more vegetarian options.”
“We need to beef up our presentation before tomorrow's meeting.”
“The coach wants to beef up the defense before the championship game.”
“My grandmother tried to beef up my skinny arms by feeding me endless bowls of soup.”
📚Related Words
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