smarten up
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle up
Meanings
Make yourself look neater or more presentable
Why “up”? Something is made neater, better-looking, more impressive, or more appealing.
“He smartened up for the interview.”
“She smartened up for the dinner.”
Test yourself
“He smartened up for the interview.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
build up
Same up pattern: making better
Gradually increase in amount, strength or intensity; Develop or strengthen something over time; Make someone or something seem more important or impressive than they are; Encourage or strengthen someone emotionally; Create momentum towards a moment or event
do up
Same up pattern: making better
Fasten a button, zip or buckle; Improve a room or property by repairing or decorating it; Wrap or tie something into a neat package; Style or arrange one's hair or appearance
dress up
Same up pattern: making better
Put on smart or formal clothes; Wear a costume, often imitating someone or something; Make something look more attractive or impressive than it is
fix up
Same up pattern: making better
Repair or improve the condition of something
polish up
Same up pattern: making better
Improve a skill by extra practice
spice up
Same up pattern: making better
Make something more interesting or exciting
spruce up
Same up pattern: making better
Improve the appearance of a place
talk up
Same up pattern: making better
Make something sound more important or impressive
Practice “smarten up” in Sink In
Drill this and 600+ phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by particle.