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.

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.

Related phrasal verbs

#catch up with#follow up on#work on#take up

🧩 Think you know your phrasal verbs?

Take the Phrasal Verbs Test — 20 terms, instant result, no signup.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.