write up
write up
1. verb To write an article or compose a document. A noun or pronoun can be used between "write" and "up." Can you write up a short piece on the new restaurant? We only have a few days to write this contract up, so make sure you cover all the clauses. Frank has been insufferable ever since he got written up in the local paper. He thinks he's a local celebrity now.
2. verb To finalize a document, such as a bill or invoice. A noun or pronoun can be used between "write" and "up." I'll write up a bill as soon as we make sure everything is in stock. Take those up to the counter and Tim will write you up.
3. verb To intentionally assign an asset a value higher than its actual value. A noun or pronoun can be used between "write" and "up." We have to avoid writing up our fleet of machines or it will cause discrepancies down the road.
4. verb To cite someone for breaking a law or rule. A noun or pronoun can be used between "write" and "up." I'm sorry, sir, but I'm going to have to write you up for that broken tail light. If you don't all start behaving, I'll be forced to write up every single one of you.
5. noun An article about something. As a noun, the phrase is hyphenated. Did you see the write-up about Jill in the paper? She's really hitting it big now!
See also: up, write
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
write someone or something up
to write an article about someone or something. A reporter wrote me up for the Sunday paper. I wrote up a local business and sent the story to a magazine, but they didn't buy the story.
See also: up, write
write something up
to prepare a bill, order, or statement. Please write the order up and send me a copy. As soon as I finish writing up your check, I'll bring you some more coffee.
See also: up, write
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
write up
1. Write a report or description, as for publication, as in She's been writing up these local concerts for years. [Early 1400s]
2. Overvalue an asset, as in That accountant is always writing up our equipment, forgetting depreciation.
See also: up, write
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
write up
v.
1. To write a report or description of something, as for publication: The scientist wrote up her discovery in a medical journal. I wrote the arts festival up for a local newspaper.
2. To compose a finished document from some set of notes: The clerk wrote up the minutes of the meeting. The professor wrote her lectures up into a book.
3. To draft some type of document: My lawyer wrote up a contract spelling out my rights and responsibilities. I forgot to write the questionnaire up before the interviews.
4. To write something to completion, especially quickly or easily: This morning after breakfast I was inspired and wrote up a little story about dragons. Once our script idea was approved, we went back to the office and wrote it up.
5. To report someone in writing, as for breaking the law: The police officer wrote me up for speeding. The cop wrote up the pedestrian for jaywalking.
6. To overstate the value of assets: The company wrote up its real estate assets in order to avoid a long-term loss of resources. The new accountant looked at the figures in the ledger and realized that the previous accountant had written them up.
7. To bring something, as a journal, up to date: The bookkeeper came in once a month to write up the account books. Once you update an invoice to the ledger, the computer automatically writes it up in the sales journal.
See also: up, write
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- write on
- write on (someone or something)
- write back
- write down
- put pen to paper
- set pen to paper
- copy out
- copy out (by hand)
- wrote
- fire off