brush up

[bruhsh] Origin

brush

1[bruhsh]
noun
1.
an implement consisting of bristles, hair, or the like, set in or attached to a handle, used for painting, cleaning, polishing, grooming, etc.
2.
one of a pair of devices consisting of long, thin handles with wire bristles attached, used in jazz or dance bands for keeping a soft, rhythmic beat on the trap drums or the cymbals.
3.
the bushy tail of an animal, especially of a fox.
4.
Electricity.
a.
a conductor, often made of carbon or copper or a combination of the two, serving to maintain electric contact between stationary and moving parts of a machine, generator, or other apparatus.
5.
a feathery or hairy tuft or tassel, as on the tip of a kernel of grain or on a man's hat.
EXPAND
6.
an act or instance of brushing; application of a brush.
7.
a light, stroking touch.
8.
a brief encounter: He has already had one brush with the law.
9.
a close approach, especially to something undesirable or harmful: a brush with disaster.
COLLAPSE
verb (used with object)
10.
to sweep, paint, clean, polish, etc., with a brush.
11.
to touch lightly in passing; pass lightly over: His lips brushed her ear.
12.
to remove by brushing or by lightly passing over: His hand brushed a speck of lint from his coat.

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Brush up is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
verb (used without object)
13.
to move or skim with a slight contact.
14.
brush aside, to disregard; ignore: Our complaints were simply brushed aside.
15.
brush off, to rebuff; send away: She had never been brushed off so rudely before.
16.
brush up on, to revive, review, or resume (studies, a skill, etc.): She's thinking of brushing up on her tennis. Also, brush up.
17.
get the brush, to be rejected or rebuffed: She greeted Jim effusively, but I got the brush.
18.
give the brush, to ignore, rebuff, etc.: If you're still angry with him, give him the brush.

Origin:
1350–1400; (noun) Middle English brusshe, probably to be identified with brush2, if orig. sense was implement made from twigs, etc., culled from brushwood; (v.) Middle English brushen to hasten, rush, probably < Old French brosser to travel (through brush), verbal derivative of broce (see brush2)

brush·a·ble, adjective
brush·er, noun
brush·like, adjective
un·brush·a·ble, adjective


8. engagement, action, skirmish. See struggle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To brush up
Collins
World English Dictionary
brush up
 
vb (often foll by on)
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
 
n
3.  (Brit) the act or an instance of tidying one's appearance (esp in the phrase wash and brush-up)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

brush
"shrubbery," early 14c., from Anglo-Fr. bruce "brushwood," O.N.Fr. broche, O.Fr. broce "bush, thicket, undergrowth" (12c., Mod.Fr. brosse), from Gallo-Romance *brocia, perhaps from *brucus "heather," or possibly from the same source as brush (1). The verb meaning "to move
EXPAND
briskly" especially past or against something or someone (1670s) probably belongs here, on the notion of a horse, etc., passing through dense undergrowth, but brush (1) probably has contributed something to it as well.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

brush definition


  1. n.
    an encounter; a close shave. : My brush with the bear was so close I could smell its breath—which was vile, I might add.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

brush up

  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]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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