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perk up

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verb (adverb)
to make or become more cheerful, hopeful, or lively
to rise or cause to rise brisklythe dog's ears perked up
(tr) to make smarter in appearanceshe perked up her outfit with a bright scarf
(intr) Australian slang to vomit
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Word Origin for perk up

C14 perk, perhaps from Norman French perquer; see perch 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

How to use perk up in a sentence

Other Idioms and Phrases with perk up

perk up

Restore to good spirits, liveliness, or good appearance, as in You're exhausted, but a cup of tea will perk you up, or The flowers perked up the whole room. [Mid-1600s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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