Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🎁 To wrap nicely 💄 To get ready
to do up

to do up

10 3.7
Wrap and decorate something like a present to make it look attractive
  • phrasal verb
  • /duː ʌp/
  • UK
translation icon : envolver
  • She decided to do up the gift with bright paper and a big bow.
  • do up the buttons
  • do up a bed
  • doing up the house

Love it if you guys would have me, well I've recently recently did up my house.

Examples

  • His wiry gray hair was done up in a pompadour.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Let's do it up nice this time, okay?

    Going in Style (1979)

  • It's recently all been done up and it looks incredible.

  • See who can do up the room the best with their room.

  • Now do up your coat.

    WWJD II: The Woodcarver (2012)

  • Her brown hair was done up in a sophisticated roll.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Her hair was done up in a knot.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The Eastham house is all done up for a deluxe party.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • S.L. whispers to her, "Do up your shirt, honey—you have too many buttons undone."

    Fiction book (1991)

  • A stylish woman in her mid-twenties with drop-dead green eyes, auburn hair done up like a rococo cornice, and makeup that would intimidate.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

to decorate
vsto do up
226 1.9

To make something look nicer by adding paint, ornaments, or other items

includes wrapping as well as simple decoration for attractiveness
to dress something up
vsto do up
56 3.4

Make something look nicer or more attractive for a special event

is used for preparing items attractively at any time, not only events
to adorn
vsto do up
45 4.9

To put decorations on something to make it look more beautiful

also covers enclosing or wrapping an item, not only ornamenting surfaces
to wrap up
vsto do up
22 3.6

Cover something completely with paper, cloth or another material to protect it

adds the idea of making the item look attractive as well as covering it
to gussy up
vsto do up
  • Informal
5 8.6

To dress or decorate in a fancy way to look nicer

is similar but can be simpler and focused on neat wrapping or modest decoration
to ornament
vsto do up
4 3.7

To add decorations to something to make it look nicer

can include wrapping or broader presentation, not just small decorative bits
to gift-wrap
vsto do up
3 2.2

Wrap a present in pretty paper and add a ribbon or bow to make it look nice

is the broader act of wrapping or decorating to make items attractive
to paint up
vsto do up
1 2.5

Put paint on something to make it look better

is broader and can include wrapping or additional decorative actions
to spiff up
vsto do up
  • Informal
1 7.2

Make a person or place look neater and nicer by cleaning and adding small things

often involves wrapping or adding decorative finishing to enhance appearance
to wrap a gift
vsto do up
1 1.0

To cover a gift with pretty paper and ribbon before giving it

focuses on wrapping or decorating generally, not only pre-giving preparation
to tart up
vsto do up
  • UK
1 8.9

To make something or someone look bright and showy to attract attention

is about making items attractive but without the implied showiness or poor taste
to parcel up
vsto do up
3.4

To wrap things together to send or store

is aimed at making items look attractive rather than preparing for shipment
to fancy up
vsto do up
  • Informal
6.5

Make something look more stylish and attractive

is narrower, focusing on wrapping or simple decoration for attractiveness
to trick up
vsto do up
  • Informal
7.2

To make someone or something look fancier to impress people

is more about making an item attractive in general, not only to impress

Antonyms

to unwrap
15 1.0

To take off paper or cloth that covers a gift

How Attractive

to decorate
226 1.9
to do up
  • UK
10 3.7
to gift-wrap
3 2.2
to wrap
729 1.0

Surface Forms

do up infinitive
did up past
done up past participle
doing up present participle
does up third person singular

Morphology

do + up

There is a clear compositional clue: 'do' (make/perform) plus 'up' (to a higher or completed state) suggests making something more finished or improved, so a B1 learner could infer it relates to altering appearance. However, the specific conventionalized sense 'make oneself look attractive/neat' is a phrasal-verb meaning that is somewhat metaphorical and overlaps with other senses of do up (e.g., fasten, renovate), so the exact interpretation is not fully predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Do up may come from the simple action of tying and fastening a parcel: you wrap the paper, pull the ribbon and do it up so it looks neat and ready to give. That's why do up means 'to wrap or decorate something'.