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To big up somebody or something is to give someone or something praise, to acknowledge them in a positive way, or talk a lot about how excellent someone or something is. Informal.
big-up can also be used as a noun – e.g. a big-up to all my wonderful fans!
Exampes of use:
1. Everyone bigs up that new restaurant. Shall we book a table for your birthday?
2. The book was really bigged up by the media, but sales were very disappointing.
3. They are bigging up their products and services with lots of adverts on local radio stations.
| infinitive | big up |
| present simple | big up and bigs up |
| -ing form | bigging up (American English – sometimes, big upping) |
| past simple | bigged up (American English – sometimes, big upped) |
| past participle | bigged up (American English – sometimes, big upped) |
Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'big up' in a sentence?
Have you seen or heard the phrasal verb 'big up' in films, newspapers or songs?
For more advanced readers, the BBC Learning English site has a very interesting article about the origins and use of the phrasal verb 'big up', written by Jim Pettiward.
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About Angela Boothroyd
