1. To wash up something (or wash something up) is to clean the dishes, saucepans and cutlery that you have used for cooking and eating a meal.
British and Australian English.
Examples of use:
a) Can you help me wash up these dishes, please?
b) I love cooking, but I hate washing up all the saucepans afterwards.
2. To wash up is to clean your hands with soap and water.
American English.
Examples of use:
a) Dinner is ready – go and wash up, please.
b) Make sure you wash up before you eat your take-out.
3. Wash up something or wash something up. When something washes up it is carried to land by the sea or a river, and left there.
International English.
Examples of use:
1. The old boat washed up on the beach in the storm.
2. The sea washes up old fishing nets in the winter.
3. A whale carcass washed up on the beach last week.
infinitive |
wash up |
present simple |
wash up and washes up |
-ing form |
washing up |
past simple |
washed up |
past participle |
washed up |
Can you write a sentence with the phrasal verb wash up?
Have you ever found something washed up on a beach?
Image by Roger H. Goun and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.