pep up
(redirected from pepped it up)pep up
1. To increase or enhance someone's excitement, interest, energy, or alertness. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pep" and "up." The show was going really poorly until the host came out and pepped the audience up. I think I need some coffee to pep me up.
2. To make something more interesting, engaging, or exciting. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pep" and "up." I always use some red chilies to pep up my soups and stews. Have you considered using electric guitars to pep the song up a bit?
pepped up
Stimulated; made to be or feel more awake, alert, and energetic. Hyphenated if used before a noun. I just can't focus until I get pepped up with a bit of coffee in the morning. The officer suspected that the pepped-up truck driver might have been high on amphetamines.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
pep someone or something up
to make someone or something more vigorous. Nancy needs to take some vitamins to pep her up. The coffee break pepped up the tired workers. Better food might pep your cat up.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
pep someone up
Invigorate someone or cheer someone up, as in This drink will pep you up, or The good news about his recovery pepped us up. [1920s] Both the verb pep and the noun pep, denoting vigor and energy since about 1910, are abbreviations for pepper, a spice with a pungent, biting quality. They also have given rise to pep rally, a meeting to inspire enthusiasm [c. 1940], and pep talk, a speech meant to instill enthusiasm or bolster morale [1920s].
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
pep up
v.
1. To cause something to become more exciting or interesting: A little spice will pep up the flavor of the stew. We could use a good comedian to pep this party up!
2. To cause someone to become more alert and energetic: I drank coffee to pep myself up as the night wore on. A little music might pep up our bored guests.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
pepped (up)
and peppymod. alcohol intoxicated. (see also perked (up).) That guy looks a little pepped up. Don’t give him any more booze.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.