beef-up

[beef-uhp] /ˈbifˌʌp/
noun
1.
an act or instance of strengthening or reinforcing.
Origin
noun use of verb phrase beef up

beef

[beef] /bif/
noun, plural beeves
[beevz] /bivz/ (Show IPA), for 2; beefs for 4.
1.
the flesh of a cow, steer, or bull raised and killed for its meat.
2.
an adult cow, steer, or bull raised for its meat.
3.
Informal.
  1. brawn; muscular strength.
  2. strength; power.
  3. weight, as of a person.
  4. human flesh.
4.
Slang.
  1. a complaint.
  2. an argument or dispute.
verb (used without object)
5.
Slang. to complain; grumble.
Verb phrases
6.
beef up,
  1. to add strength, numbers, force, etc., to; strengthen:
    During the riots, the nighttime patrol force was beefed up with volunteers.
  2. to increase or add to:
    to beef up our fringe benefits.
Origin
1250-1300; 1885-90 for def 5; Middle English < Anglo-French beof, Old French boef < Latin bov- (stem of bōs) ox, cow; akin to cow1
Related forms
beefless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for beef up

beef

/biːf/
noun
1.
the flesh of various bovine animals, esp the cow, when killed for eating
2.
(pl) beeves (biːvz). an adult ox, bull, cow, etc, reared for its meat
3.
(informal) human flesh, esp when muscular
4.
(pl) beefs. a complaint
verb
5.
(intransitive) (slang) to complain, esp repeatedly: he was beefing about his tax
6.
(informal) (transitive) often foll by up. to strengthen; reinforce
Word Origin
C13: from Old French boef, from Latin bōs ox; see cow1
Word Origin and History for beef up
v.

"add strength," 1941, from college slang, from beef (n.) in slang sense of "muscle-power" (1851).

beef

n.

c.1300, from Old French buef "ox; beef; ox hide" (11c., Modern French boeuf), from Latin bovem (nominative bos, genitive bovis) "ox, cow," from PIE root *gwou- "cow, ox, bull" (see cow (n.)). Original plural was beeves.

v.

"to complain," slang, 1888, American English, from noun meaning "complaint" (1880s). The noun meaning "argument" is recorded from 1930s. The origin and signification are unclear; perhaps it traces to the common late 19c. complaint of U.S. soldiers about the quantity or quality of beef rations.

Slang definitions & phrases for beef up

beef up

verb phrase

To strengthen; reinforce •Beef up! is attested as an exhortation to use more strength by 1890: The Patriots beefed up their defense by adding an all-star lineman (WWII armed forces and industry)


beef

noun
  1. A complaint; grievance: Her mother called up to register a beef (1890s+)
  2. A criminal charge or indictment: ''What was your beef, Jim?'' ''Robbery'' (1910+ Underworld)
  3. A quarrel; argument: I've got no beef with you, buddy (1930s+)
  4. A customer's bill or check; bad news, the DAMAGE (1930s+)
  5. Muscle; strength; huskiness (mid-1800s+)
  6. Bulkiness; fleshiness; mass: The old chorus girls had lots of beef, not like now (mid-1800s+)
  7. The penis (1890+)
verb
  1. : The hospital beefed when the city announced plans (1880s+)
  2. To quarrel: We started beefing with each other (1930s+)

Idioms and Phrases with beef up

beef up

Strengthen, reinforce, as in Mary wants us to beef up her part in the play. This phrase relies on an older slang sense of beef as “muscles” or “power.” [ ; late 1800s ]

beef

In addition to the idiom beginning with beef also see: where's the beef