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Meaning & use

lace them up

verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌleɪs ðəm ˈʌp/
US/ˌleɪs ðəm ˈʌp/

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    To fasten shoes or boots by tying their laces.

    Grammar: The object 'them' is required and refers to the footwear. You can also say 'lace up your shoes' with a noun object.

    Patterns

    • lace them up
    • lace up something
    • lace something up

    Your shoes are untied; lace them up before you trip.

    He quickly laced them up and ran out to catch the bus.

    The kids were told to lace them up tightly for the hike.

  2. verbintransitiveinformal

    To prepare for action, especially in sports, by putting on and fastening athletic shoes.

    Grammar: Often used as a call to action: Lace them up! meaning get ready to play.

    Patterns

    • lace them up

    The coach shouted, 'Lace them up! It's game time.'

    Before every practice, the players lace them up and hit the court.

Word forms

third person singularlaces them up
past tenselaced them up
past participlelaced them up
-ing formlacing them up

Common combinations

lace them up tight
Lace them up tight so your boots don't slip off.
lace them up properly
If you lace them up properly, your feet will feel more comfortable.
lace them up for a run
She laced them up for a run in the park.
lace them up and go
Just lace them up and go; we're already late.

Synonyms and how they differ

tie them
More general; can refer to tying anything, while 'lace them up' is specific to shoes or boots with laces.
fasten them
Broader term that includes buckles, Velcro, etc.; 'lace them up' is only for laces.

Opposites

unlace themtake them off

Word family

lace noun
A cord used to fasten shoes.
laced adjective
Fastened with laces, e.g., laced shoes.

Commonly confused: lace them up or lace into them?

lace them up vs lace into them

Means to attack them, not to tie shoes. 'Lace them up' is about shoes; 'lace into them' is about criticism or physical attack.

Practice

Complete the sentence: 'Before the game, the players _____ and headed to the field.'

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