brush up

verb

1. to refresh one's knowledge, skill, or memory of (a subject)

2. to make (a person or oneself) tidy, clean, or neat as after a journey

noun

1. the act or an instance of tidying one's appearance (esp in the phrase wash and brush-up )

Idioms and Phrases

Clean, refurbish, as in We plan to get the house brushed up in time for the party . [c. 1600]

Also, brush up on . Review, refresh one's memory, as in Nell brushed up on her Spanish before going to Honduras , or I'm brushing up my knowledge of town history before I speak at the club . [Late 1700s]