Meaning & use
lube up
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitiveinformal
To apply a slippery substance to something to reduce friction or make it work smoothly.
Grammar: Can be used with an object (lube up the hinge) or without (the hinge needs to be lubed up).
Patterns
- lube up something
- lube something up
- lube up
He lubed up the squeaky door hinges before painting them.
The mechanic lubed the joints up and the noise stopped.
This old lock needs to be lubed up; it's hard to turn.
verbtransitive or intransitiveinformal
To put lubricant on the body, especially for sexual activity.
Grammar: Often used reflexively: lube yourself up.
Patterns
- lube up
- lube yourself up
The instructions say to lube up before inserting the catheter.
They keep a bottle by the bed so they can lube up when needed.
Word forms
| third person singular | lubes up |
|---|---|
| past tense | lubed up |
| past participle | lubed up |
| -ing form | lubing up |
Common combinations
- lube up the chain
- Remember to lube up the chain before your long ride.
- lube up a hinge
- A little oil will lube up a hinge in seconds.
- lube up before
- You should lube up before you start the exercise.
- lube up with
- Lube up with a water-based product if you use latex.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: lube up or lube it up?
lube up vs lube it up
Same meaning, but 'lube it up' includes the pronoun object 'it'; use it when the object is already known.
Practice
The drawer is stuck. Try to ______ it ______ with some candle wax.
Choose one answer.
'Lube up' is the phrasal verb meaning to apply lubricant. 'Lube out', 'lube in', and 'lube off' are not standard combinations in this sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lube up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.