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use up

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use someone up

Fig. to use all the effort or talent a person has. His career simply used him up. I used myself up. I'm done. I can't function anymore.

See also: up, use

use something up

to consume or use all of something. Use the flour up. I have more in the cupboard. Use up every bit of it. Go ahead.

See also: up, use

use up something

also use something up

to use all of something so that none of it is left New ink cartridges often cost $25 to $35 each and can be used up quickly if you print a lot of photos. Many seniors quickly use up their money on prescription drugs. She gets three weeks of vacation but she uses it up before the year was half over.

See also: up, use

use up

1. Consume completely, as in The kids used up all their money playing video games. [Late 1700s]

2. Exhaust, tire out, as in I'm totally used up from digging that hole. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

See also: up, use

use up

v.

To consume something completely: We used up all our money on repairs for the house. We used all the gas up before we reached the gas station.

See also: up, use