wash up

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wash up

1. To become clean by scrubbing with soap and water, especially one's hands and face. I've been out digging in the garden all morning, so I'd like to wash up before we go anywhere tonight. Make sure the kids wash up before dinner.
2. To clean the dishes, utensils, pots, and pans from a meal. You cooked dinner, so I'll wash up! I don't mind washing up, if you'll dry everything with a towel for me.
3. To clean something with soap and water. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wash" and "up." I didn't have enough money to pay for my meal, so the restaurant made me stay and wash their dishes up for them instead.
See also: up, wash
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

wash someone or something up

 
1. to clean up someone or something by washing. Please wash the baby up as long as you are changing the diaper. I'll wash up the baby. Sam will wash himself up before dinner.
2. [for water or the waves] to bring someone or something up onto the shore or beach. Look what the waves washed up! A bottle with a note in it! The waves washed a bottle up.
See also: up, wash

wash someone up

to terminate someone in something. This error is going to wash you up as an account executive. That washed me up. Problems like this have washed up quite a few careers.
See also: up, wash

wash up (for something)

to clean [oneself] up for something, such as a meal. Please wash up for dinner. Go and wash up!
See also: up, wash

washed up

Fig. finished. "You're through, Tom," said the manager, "Fired—washed up!" Wilbur is washed up as a bank teller.
See also: up, wash
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

wash up

1. Wash one's hands and face, as in It's time to wash up for dinner. [First half of 1900s] Also see clean up, def. 2.
2. Clean the utensils after a meal, as in I'll cook dinner if you promise to wash up. [Mid-1700s] Also see do the dishes.
3. Bring about the end or ruin of; finish. This usage is often used put in the passive, be washed up, as in She's all washed up as a singer. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
See also: up, wash
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

wash up

v.
1. To carry something ashore by the action of water: The current washed up some cargo from the sunken ship. The tide washed some seaweed up on shore.
2. To be carried ashore by the action of water: This piece of driftwood washed up onto the beach.
3. To wash one's hands: Please wash up before dinner.
4. To wash dishes after a meal: Whose turn is it to wash up?
See also: up, wash
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • scrub up
  • wash (one's) hands
  • wash your hands
  • use (a little) (bit of) elbow grease
  • use some elbow grease
  • soap up
  • soap down
  • do the dishes
  • elbow grease
  • elbow-grease