beef up

English

Etymology

Originally college slang, from beef (“muscle-power”).[1]

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Verb

beef up (third-person singular simple present beefs up, present participle beefing up, simple past and past participle beefed up)

  1. (slang, transitive) To strengthen or reinforce; to add substance to. [1941[1]]
    We need to beef up security around the airport.

Translations
to strengthen or reinforce — see strengthen

References
  1. Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “beef up”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
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