brush up on

USAGE SUMMARY

"brush up on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to say something like you are trying to improve your skills or knowledge on something by studying or reviewing it. For example: "I need to brush up on my Spanish before I go to Spain next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Need to brush up on classic fiction?

Harvard University

But brush up on your Spanish.

The New York Times

In short: brush up on your catchphrases.

The Guardian

Stephen Colbert better brush up on his pliés.

The New York Times

Want to brush up on best practices for this?

University of California, Berkeley

Need to brush up on your Harvard history?

Harvard University

I'm definitely going to have to brush up on it".

The New York Times - Sports

Need to brush up on the Yorkshire dialect?

BBC

Time to brush up on my Shakespeare.

Huffington Post

Better brush up on your Fujianese?

Huffington Post

Better brush up on my Russian.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "brush up on" when you want to suggest a light review rather than a deep dive into a subject. For instance, "I need to brush up on my French" implies a need for a refresher, not comprehensive study.

Common error

Avoid using "brush up on" when referring to learning something for the first time. This phrase is specifically for refreshing existing knowledge, not acquiring new information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brush up on" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase indicating the act of reviewing or refreshing one's knowledge or skills. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase. The provided examples show it in use across different subjects, from languages to technical skills.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

28%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "brush up on" is a common and correct idiomatic verb phrase used to describe the act of reviewing or refreshing one's knowledge or skills. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage in various contexts, as demonstrated by numerous examples across news, academic and general sources. While versatile, remember that it's best suited for refreshing existing knowledge rather than learning something new from scratch. For alternatives, consider "review" or "refresh your knowledge" for more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refresh your knowledge

More formal, emphasizing renewed understanding.

review

A general term for going over material again.

sharpen your skills

Suggests making skills more precise and effective.

improve your skills

Focuses specifically on enhancing abilities.

reacquaint yourself with

Implies a prior familiarity that has faded.

polish up on

Suggests refining existing skills or knowledge.

revisit

Implies going back to something already learned.

get up to speed on

Focuses on becoming current with new information.

study up on

A more direct and informal way to say study something.

bone up on

An informal phrase for intensive studying.

FAQs

How can I use "brush up on" in a sentence?

You can use "brush up on" to indicate the need to review or refresh your knowledge or skills in a particular area. For example, "I need to brush up on my math skills before the exam."

What's a more formal alternative to "brush up on"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "refresh your knowledge" or "review". These alternatives are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it correct to say "brush up at" instead of "brush up on"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "brush up" in this context is "on". Saying "brush up at" would be grammatically incorrect.

When should I use "improve your skills" instead of "brush up on"?

Use "improve your skills" when you want to emphasize making your skills better, whereas "brush up on" implies a simpler review of existing skills.