brush up

British  

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

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noun

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

brush up Idioms  

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

2. 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]

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Example Sentences

At one burn, Hanson proposed that we make a side trip and wade through the brush up on a steep canyon wall where, he assured me, we would find even more saplings just breaking through.

From Los Angeles Times

This isn’t to say everyone needs to brush up on penmanship and stop using AI calendars.

From The Wall Street Journal

Love and affection run past the margins, brushing up against shame and fear for a conclusion that’s akin to lingering a bit longer after a holiday dinner.

From Salon

And given the new nuclear optimism, brushing up on the sector is a good idea.

From Barron's

The high school students only realised they had brushed up on the wrong Roman ruler when they crossed the Rubicon to sit down for their final-year exams.

From Barron's