do up
2 meanings
repair or decorate a building or room to make it look better
What does "do up" mean in this sense?
Examples
- They bought an old cottage and did it up beautifully over two years.
- We're thinking of doing up the kitchen before we put the house on the market.
- The Victorian terrace has been completely done up and looks stunning.
How to use it
The most common pattern — use the name of a building or room as the object.
They bought a run-down flat and decided to do up the whole place before moving in.
When you replace the object with a pronoun (it, them), it must go between 'do' and 'up'.
The cottage was in terrible condition, but they did it up over the course of a year.
With short noun objects, placing the object between the verb and particle is also very natural.
We're planning to do the kitchen up before Christmas.
The passive form is common when describing the finished result of a renovation, often with adverbs like 'beautifully' or 'tastefully'.
The old barn has been done up beautifully — you'd never recognise it.
Often used with verbs like 'want', 'plan', or 'hope' to talk about renovation as a goal or intention.
She's hoping to do up the spare room before her family visits.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'do' and 'up'. Placing it after 'up' is ungrammatical.
"Do up" also means to fasten clothing or a zip, so make sure the context is clear. If your object is a building or room, the meaning is renovation; if it's a coat or button, the meaning is to fasten it.
In the renovation sense, 'do up' always needs an object — a building, room, or pronoun. You cannot leave it out the way you can with some other phrasal verbs.
Usage
This phrasal verb is much more common in British English than American English; American speakers tend to say 'fix up' or 'renovate' instead. It is neutral in register and suits both spoken conversation and informal writing about property or home improvement.
fasten or button up a piece of clothing
Sense 2: What does "do sth up" mean?
Examples
- Do up your coat — it's freezing outside.
- She did her jacket up before stepping out into the rain.
- Can you do up my zip? I can't reach it.
How to use it
The most common pattern, where the clothing item or fastening comes directly after the particle.
Do up your laces before you trip over them.
The object can also go between the verb and the particle, especially with short noun phrases.
She did her jacket up and walked out into the cold.
When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between the verb and the particle — never after "up".
Your buttons are open — do them up before the meeting.
The passive form is used to describe the state of something being fastened, especially in instructions or descriptions.
Make sure your belt is done up properly before you get on the bike.
Often used with modal verbs like "can", "could", or "need to" when asking for help or describing ability.
Could you do up my zip? I can't reach it at the back.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like "it" or "them", it must go between "do" and "up", not after "up". Putting the pronoun after the particle is ungrammatical in English.
"Zip up" only refers to closing a zipper, and "button up" only refers to buttons. "Do up" is the general term that works for any type of fastening, so it's often the more useful choice when the fastening type is mixed or unspecified.
"Do up" also has a completely different meaning — to renovate or redecorate a building. Be careful with the object you use: clothing items signal the fastening meaning, while houses or rooms signal renovation.
Usage
This is mainly British English; American speakers tend to say 'button up' or 'zip up' instead. It works for any type of fastening — buttons, zips, laces, and belts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'do up' used in American English?
It's not very common in American English in this sense. American speakers would more naturally say 'fix up' or 'renovate' when talking about improving a building or room. 'Do up' in this meaning is mainly British English, and you'll often hear it in British property and lifestyle conversations.
What kinds of places can you 'do up'?
Typically buildings and rooms — houses, flats, cottages, barns, kitchens, bathrooms, and similar spaces. A common pattern is to buy an old or run-down property and do it up to sell or rent. You wouldn't normally use 'do up' for a garden or a street, for example.
Can I say 'a done-up flat' or 'a done-up house'?
Yes! 'Done up' is often used like an adjective before a noun, especially with an adverb — for example, 'a beautifully done-up cottage' or 'a tastefully done-up apartment'. This is a natural way to describe a property that has already been renovated.
Does 'do up' always mean a big renovation, or can it be something small?
It usually suggests more than just a quick clean or tidy — it implies real improvement work, like repainting, replacing fittings, or modernising a space. However, it doesn't have to mean a complete rebuild. Doing up a room could mean repainting and replacing the furniture, while doing up a whole house implies a larger project.
Can I use 'do up' to talk about something I'm doing right now?
Yes, the present continuous is very natural here because renovation is an ongoing activity. For example: 'We're doing up the bathroom at the moment.' The simple present is less common unless you're describing a regular habit, which is unusual for renovation.
Is "do up" British English? Would Americans understand it?
Yes, "do up" in this sense is mainly British English. American speakers more commonly say "button up", "zip up", or just "fasten". Most Americans would understand "do up" from context, but it might sound slightly unfamiliar to them.
Can "do up" be used for any type of fastening, or only buttons?
It works for any type of fastening — buttons, zips, laces, belts, hooks, and more. This is one of the things that makes it useful: you don't have to say which kind of fastening you mean. For example, you can say "do up your shoes" whether they have laces, velcro, or a buckle.
Can I say "I'm doing up my coat" or does that sound strange?
The present continuous is possible if you are actively in the middle of fastening something at that moment, but it sounds slightly unnatural in most situations. It's more natural to use the simple present, simple past, or imperative — for example, "Do your coat up" or "She did up her coat".
Can "done up" be used as an adjective?
Yes! "Done up" is commonly used to describe the state of clothing being fastened. For example, "Is your zip done up?" or "Make sure your coat is done up before you go out." This is a very natural and useful pattern.
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