phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb
brush up on
to review skills again
What it means
To review or practise a skill you already know but have not used recently. It is inseparable and very common with languages, knowledge, and abilities that get rusty over time.
Words like “brush up on” are exactly the kind of vocabulary our English vocabulary size test measures — find out how many English words you know.
Examples
- I need to brush up on my French before our trip to Lyon.
- She spent the weekend brushing up on math for her exam.
- He's brushing up on his interview skills before the big day.
- It wouldn't hurt to brush up on the safety rules before starting work.
Where it comes from
Used since the 1700s, with 'brush' suggesting a quick polish — as if you were dusting off a skill you'd put on the shelf. The phrase is informal and friendly, never harsh.
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