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wash up
wash someone or something up
1. to clean up someone or something by washing. Please wash the baby up as long as you are changing the diaper. I'll wash up the baby. Sam will wash himself up before dinner.
2. [for water or the waves] to bring someone or something up onto the shore or beach. Look what the waves washed up! A bottle with a note in it! The waves washed a bottle up.
wash someone up
to terminate someone in something. This error is going to wash you up as an account executive. That washed me up. Problems like this have washed up quite a few careers.
wash up (for something)
to clean [oneself] up for something, such as a meal. Please wash up for dinner. Go and wash up!
wash up
to clean your hands She told the children to wash up for dinner.
wash up (something)
also wash something up1. to be moved and left in another place by the flow of water Following the sinking of the ferry, a number of bodies washed up on shore. Scattered around the bridge is a lot of debris that washed up.
2. to clean the dishes after a meal Who's turn is it to wash up? I started washing up the supper dishes.
wash up
1. Wash one's hands and face, as in
It's time to wash up for dinner. [First half of 1900s] Also see
clean up, def. 2.
2. Clean the utensils after a meal, as in
I'll cook dinner if you promise to wash up. [Mid-1700s] Also see
do the dishes.
3. Bring about the end or ruin of; finish. This usage is often used put in the passive, be washed up, as in She's all washed up as a singer. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
wash up
v.1. To carry something ashore by the action of water: The current washed up some cargo from the sunken ship. The tide washed some seaweed up on shore.
2. To be carried ashore by the action of water: This piece of driftwood washed up onto the beach.
3. To wash one's hands: Please wash up before dinner.
4. To wash dishes after a meal: Whose turn is it to wash up?