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Phrasal verbs "brush up" vs "buy up"

Differences between brush up and buy up

Brush up means to improve or refresh one's knowledge or skills in a particular area, while buy up means to purchase all or most of the available supply of something.

Meanings and Definitions: brush up vs buy up

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Brush up

  • 1Improve a skill quickly.

    She took a two - week course to BRUSH UP her Spanish before she went travelling around South and Central America.

Buy up

  • 1Buy all of something.

    We BOUGHT UP all the shop had before the price went up.

Usage Examples: brush up, buy up in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

brush up

Example

I need to brush up on my French before our trip to Paris.

Example

She brushes up on her math skills before every exam.

buy up

Example

She wants to buy up all the available tickets for the concert.

Example

He buys up all the limited edition items he can find.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Brush up

polish up

To improve or refine one's skills or knowledge in a particular area.

Example

She decided to polish up her French before her trip to Paris.

refresh one's memory

To review or remind oneself of previously learned information.

Example

I need to refresh my memory on the history of World War II before the exam.

revisit

To go back and review or reconsider something previously learned or experienced.

Example

I want to revisit the first chapter of the book to better understand the plot.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Buy up

snap up

To quickly purchase or acquire something before others have a chance to do so.

Example

She snapped up the last pair of shoes in her size before they sold out.

hoard

To accumulate or stockpile a large quantity of something.

Example

He decided to hoard toilet paper during the pandemic, buying more than he needed.

corner the market

To gain control over a particular product or service by acquiring a significant portion of its supply.

Example

The company was able to corner the market on organic produce by buying up all the available farms in the region.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “brush”

Phrasal Verbs with “buy”

Phrasal Verbs with “up”

Differences in brush up vs buy up: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: brush up or buy up?

In daily conversation, people use brush up more often than buy up. This is because brush up is used for more common situations such as studying for an exam or refreshing one's language skills. Buy up is not used as much in everyday conversation. It's mainly used in business contexts or when someone wants to buy a large quantity of something. So, while both phrases are used, brush up is more common in everyday conversation.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of brush up and buy up

Brush up and buy up are both informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of brush up and buy up

The tone of brush up and buy up can differ based on context. Brush up often carries a positive or motivated tone when related to improving one's skills or knowledge, while buy up typically has a practical and sometimes aggressive tone, especially when referring to purchasing large quantities of something.

brush up & buy up: Synonyms and Antonyms

Buy up

Antonyms

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