wasted up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'wasted up' is not a correct phrase in written English.
You could use the phrase 'waste up' which means 'to use up something in a wasteful manner' as in 'He wasted up all his money on meaningless things.'.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The inside was basically one big room, impossible to subdivide, with too much space wasted up high.

The New Yorker

It's cosy in here, as we might expect from an important energy-efficient gadget attached to her combination boiler: the Gas Saver captures the heat normally wasted up the flue, and uses it to pre-heat the cold water supply to the boiler.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Never leave a tap dripping - it can waste up to four litres a day.

The Guardian

All the while kickers waste up to two minutes while the clock ticks when lining up penalty goals and conversions.

The Guardian - Sport

A small pan on a large ring or burner can waste up to 40% of the fuel.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

On average, OCD patients can waste up to six hours a day on their obsessions and four hours on their compulsions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It said 7,000 engineering information users in the company "waste up to an average of an hour a day finding, using and maintaining engineering information".

The Guardian

The "outdated" practice of recruiting 16-year-olds into the Army is wasting up to £94m a year and should stop, two human rights groups have said.

BBC

In a separate report this summer, the Natural Resources Defense Council said that Americans waste up to 40% of the country's food supply, an a cost of $165 billion.

Los Angeles Times

Before Anton declared bankruptcy his credit cards and overdrafts were maxed all the time, and he was wasting up to $80 a month on the accompanying fees.

Vice

Interestingly, relative to wild-type controls the SPAK243A/243A mice showed obvious sodium wasting up to 6 h after this transition and potassium wasting between 6 and 24 h (Fig 5C and D).

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "wasted up" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "squandered" or "used wastefully".

Common error

Many writers incorrectly assume "wasted up" is a valid phrasal verb construction. Instead, ensure the verb and preposition combination is grammatically sound or use a single-word replacement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wasted up" functions primarily as a verb phrase, though it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates this and recommends more standard alternatives. It attempts to describe either the inefficient use of resources or the state of being intoxicated.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2.5%

Social Media

2.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "wasted up" appears in various sources, including News & Media and Wiki articles, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment and suggests using more appropriate alternatives such as "squandered", "used wastefully", or single-word replacements like "depleted" or "intoxicated" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. When referring to the inefficient use of resources or a state of inebriation, opting for grammatically sound alternatives will enhance the quality and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

squandered

Focuses on spending or using resources foolishly.

frittered away

Emphasizes gradual and wasteful spending of time or resources.

used wastefully

Highlights the inefficiency in the usage of resources.

consumed inefficiently

Focuses on the act of consuming in a non-optimal manner.

depleted

Indicates the reduction of resources to a significant extent.

intoxicated

Refers specifically to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

inebriated

Similar to intoxicated, but can also imply a loss of control.

drunk

A common and direct term for being under the influence.

hammered

An informal term for being very drunk.

smashed

A slang term for being extremely drunk.

FAQs

Is "wasted up" grammatically correct?

No, "wasted up" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "squandered" or "used wastefully" depending on the context.

What does "wasted up" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "wasted up" is sometimes informally used to describe something being used inefficiently or someone being intoxicated. For formal contexts, use more precise alternatives.

How can I avoid using "wasted up" in my writing?

Focus on using stronger, single-word verbs like "depleted" or "squandered" when describing the inefficient use of resources, and "intoxicated" or "drunk" when describing someone's state.

What are some alternatives to "wasted up" when referring to being drunk?

Depending on the level of formality, you can use "intoxicated", "inebriated", "drunk", or more informal terms like "hammered" or "smashed".