washing up

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableBritish

   The task of cleaning the plates, cups, pans and cutlery after a meal.

   Grammar: Use with do: do the washing up. No plural and no a.

   Patterns

   • do the washing up
   • help with the washing up

   I'll cook if you do the washing up.

   There was a huge pile of washing up after the party.

   Dad always hums while he is doing the washing up.

2. 2noununcountableBritish

   The dirty dishes and kitchen items that are waiting to be cleaned.

   Grammar: Refers to the objects themselves: leave the washing up in the sink.

   Patterns

   • leave the washing up
   • the washing up in the sink

   Who left the washing up in the sink again?

   She stacked the washing up carefully beside the tap.

Common combinations

do the washing up

It's your turn to do the washing up tonight.

washing-up liquid

We've run out of washing-up liquid.

washing-up bowl

Fill the washing-up bowl with hot water.

leave the washing up

Just leave the washing up until the morning.

dry the washing up

I'll wash and you can dry the washing up.

Synonyms and how they differ

the dishes

The dishes is the usual American phrase and means the same task or items, but sounds less British than washing up.

dishwashing

Dishwashing is the more formal or American-sounding name for the task, while washing up is the everyday British phrase.

cleaning up

Cleaning up is broader and can cover the whole kitchen or any mess, while washing up is only about dishes.

Word family

wash up phrasal verb

to clean the dishes after a meal

washing-up liquid noun

soap for cleaning dishes

dishwasher noun

a machine that cleans dishes

washer-up noun

a person who washes dishes

Commonly confused: washing up or washing?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “washing up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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