wash up
verb1
UK, Ambitransitive To clean the utensils, dishes etc. used in preparing and eating a meal.
- You wash up tonight and I'll dry.
- I'm not washing up all these dishes.
2
US To wash one's hands or face, often around mealtimes.
- Dinner is almost ready, so go and wash up.
3
Of water To carry (an object) to land.
- The tide washes up a lot of driftwood.
- The whale was washed up on the beach.
4
To be carried by water to land.
- Some dangerous chemicals washed up on the beach.
5
Broadly To arrive in a place; to end up somewhere.
- Ron Asheton also washed up in LA, jamming with one-time Stooge Jimmy Recca and Amboy Dukes drummer K. J. Knight.2009, Joe Ambrose, Gimme Danger: The Story of Iggy Pop:
6
Slang To beat up (someone).
African-American Vernacular
- Synonyms
- do the dishes, do the washing-up
- Derived terms
- washup, wash-up period