burn up
Related to burn up: burn out
burn up
1. To destroy something with fire or heat. It's getting cold in here because all the logs in the fireplace have burned up. Without its heat shields, the spacecraft is in danger of burning up during reentry.
2. To cause to become angry or annoyed. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is often used between "burn" and "up." Gossip like that just burns me up—I can't believe people would say such awful things about me!
3. To deplete a particular thing or resource. Unfortunately, all those plumbing problems have already burned up our renovation budget.
4. To impact something to a great or excessive degree. Sir, protestors are burning up our phone lines—what should we do? That viral video is burning up the Internet right now.
5. To easily defeat or outshine all competitors. With all of your qualifications, you'll burn up all the other applicants for the job.
6. To travel very fast. Often used to describe driving in the phrase "burn up the road." Have you seen my new car? Man, I can't wait to take it out and burn up the road!
7. To have a high fever. Jenny has been lethargic all day, and she's burning up now, so I'm taking her to the doctor.
See also: burn, up
burned up
Very angry or annoyed. Pete's burned up because he heard the awful things that people are saying about him. Mom is going to be burned up when she sees that you dented her new car!
See also: burn, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
burn someone up
1. Lit. to destroy someone by fire. The house fire burned the victims up. The fire burned up both of them.
2. Fig. to make someone very angry; to make someone endure the "heat" of rage. You really burn me up! I'm very angry at you! The whole mess burned up everyone.
See also: burn, up
burn something up
to destroy something by fire; [for fire] to consume something. Take this cardboard and burn it up. The fire burned up the papers and left no trace.
See also: burn, up
burn up
to become destroyed or consumed by fire. The wood burned up and left only ashes. The deed burned up in the fire.
See also: burn, up
burned up
Fig. very angry. (From the heat of anger. See also burn someone up.) My new assistant's mistakes are so maddening! I've never been so burned up in my life. I'm really burned up at Bob's behavior.
See also: burn, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
burn up
1. burn someone up. Make angry or very irritated, as in Arthur was really burned up at his son for denting the new car, or Those careless drivers just burn me up. [Colloquial; c. 1920]
2. Travel very fast, as in This car will burn up the road. [1940s]
3. Easily surpass or outdo, as in They'll burn up the other teams. [Slang; late 1970s]
See also: burn, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
burn up
v.
1. To destroy something or someone by fire or heat: She burned the contract up. He burned up all the photographs.
2. To be completely destroyed by fire or heat: The cabin burned up, leaving only ashes.
3. To expend something; use something up: When I was on vacation, I burned up all my money quickly. I'm really burning up calories with this exercise plan.
4. To make someone angry: Their rudeness really burns me up.
5. To travel over or through something at high speed: The racecars were really burning up the track.
See also: burn, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
burn someone up
tv. to make someone very angry. That kind of thing just burns me up.
See also: burn, someone, up
burned up
verbSee burned
See also: burn, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- burn someone up
- burned up
- hot up
- catch heat
- could do with
- could do with (something)
- could do with something
- can do with
- a scooch
- grow cold