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Glite Dictionary
to rustle up

to rustle up

11 5.1
To quickly make or find something, often food, using what you have
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈrʌsəl ʌp/
  • Informal
translation icon : preparar rápidamente
  • He managed to rustle up a quick meal from whatever was left in the fridge.
  • rustle up some grub
  • rustle up some dinner
  • rustle up some breakfast

OK, so all that's left is to rustle up some friends to share this experience with us.

Examples

  • TIMON: This looks like a good spot to rustle up some grub!

    The Lion King (2019)

  • And could you rustle up some of those cheesy niblets that are going around?

    Johnny English (2003)

  • Then tell the kitchen to rustle us up lunch.

    M*A*S*H (1970)

  • Can you rustle up some tea?

    The Black Windmill (1974)

  • Bobby Jay, let me rustle us up something to eat.

    Shoot Out (1971)

  • I'll rustle us up some grub.

    Flipper (1996)

  • I can rustle up some food if you're hungry.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • I'll rustle up some soup or its equivalent, have it bubbling when you get here.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Whitney, try and rustle up some more bandages, will you?

    A Bridge Too Far (1977)

  • Dressed in clean shorts and a T-shirt, he went into the kitchen, brewed half a pot of strong Kenyan coffee, and rustled up a pan of bacon and eggs.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

to whip up
vsto rustle up
62 3.0

To quickly make food with little effort

is broader, also covers finding or improvising with available items
to cook up
vsto rustle up
20 3.2

Prepare a quick meal by mixing ingredients you have

is broader, including quick finding or using whatever is on hand
to scrounge
vsto rustle up
  • Informal
12 6.8

To search for food or supplies by using what you find

involves quick preparation or finding, not only the act of searching
to knock up
vsto rustle up
  • UK
1 6.7

To make something quickly and simply from things you have, like a shelter or meal

leans more toward food and quick preparation or finding items
to whomp up
vsto rustle up
  • Informal
9.5

Make a quick meal often from leftovers

is more general, it can mean preparing or finding items quickly
to cobble up
vsto rustle up
  • Informal
8.2

To make something quickly and roughly using what is available

is more focused on food, not only general rough assembly

How Fast

to whip up
62 3.0
to rustle up
  • Informal
11 5.1
to prepare
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

rustle up infinitive
rustled up past
rustled up past participle
rustling up present participle
rustles up third person singular

Morphology

rustle + up

The meaning 'to quickly prepare or find (especially food) by improvising' is directly derivable from combining 'rustle' (to gather/forage) with the particle 'up', which commonly signals assembling or completing something. This verb+particle compositional pattern is a standard English construction and is likely inferable by a B1 learner who knows both constituent senses.

Etymology

The phrasal verb rustle up may come from the quick rustle sound you hear when someone moves things fast, like leaves or paper. Imagine someone hurriedly opening cupboards and bags, making that noise as they put a meal together, so rustle up means 'to make or find something quickly', often food.