dust up

1. To remove dust and dirt from someone or something by patting, brushing, or wiping. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." After sliding into third base, I got up and dusted myself up. Here, take this rag and dust up the TV stand before Grandma gets here. Don't bring those old books down from the attic until you've thoroughly dusted them up.

2. To begin to use something that has been dormant or unused for a long time, as if it were covered in dust. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." I decided to dust up the novel I started writing in college and finally try to finish it. Do you think Grandpa will ever dust up his paintings again? I bet it would improve his mood. My surgery came with a long recovery, but now I can finally dust up my sneakers and get running again!

3. To cover something with dust or a dust-like substance. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." I like to finish the cake by dusting it up with powdered sugar. Have you dusted the Irish potatoes up with cinnamon yet? No, don't taste it until I dust it up with coconut flakes!

4. To pass someone very quickly or handily, as on a trail or in a race. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." I thought I would be a faster climber, but Jack completely dusted me up to the summit. The younger runner dusted up all of his competitors. Mona's the fastest girl in our class, so I'm not surprised she dusted up everyone else in the race.

5. To make someone or oneself ready to continue trying to do something or begin something again, especially after something unpleasant or demoralizing has happened. A noun or pronoun is used between "dust" and "up" I know you struggled last season, but it's time to dust yourself up and start fresh this season. I really struggled after losing my job, but my wife helped dust me up and start looking for a new career. No one likes rejection, but it's just part of the business. You need to dust yourself up and start going to auditions again.

6. To punch or beat someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." I ran to get a teacher when I heard the school bully threaten to dust up another kid in our class. The detective dusted the suspect up a bit when he refused to admit to the crime. Would you knock it off? That dude's gonna dust you up if you keep flirting with his girlfriend!

dust-up

A fight or argument. I'm glad to see that you guys made up after your little dust-up the other night. They're not talking to each other? Oh boy, what's this dust-up about? If the heads of department fundamentally disagree about these things, expect more dust-ups this summer.

dust-up

n. a fight. There was a dust-up at the party that ruined the evening for everyone.

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References in periodicals archive

Another dustup between interior minister Socrates Hasikos and Auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides came to the fore on Wednesday over the approval of some 800 student visas to Bangladeshi nationals.

New dustup between Michalides and Hasikos over dodgy student visas

Matt Price was on the end of a line-out drive, from a penalty into the left corner, for Cov's fourth, again converted, and after Dale had finally shown themselves as an attacking force, Huw Morgan going in for a try which Jamie Guy converted, a second converted try for Tincknell brought a one-sided half to a close with Sam Pailor and Dale No.8 Rob Baldwin both in the sin bin following a something and nothing dustup.

Not perfect, but Cov open with full house; NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE Coventry ???????????????????????? 41 Wharfedale ???????????????????? 14

David Uberti, writing in Monday's Columbia Journalism Review, said PBS' marketing arm, PBS Distribution, acknowledged pulling the October ad but declined further comment on the dustup. Instead, PBS issued a list of six "talking points" for station managers who may get questions about the Harper's article.

Corporate misbehavior

The action begins when Violet is out running and comes across a man who has been in a dustup and is distressed.

Florid Eyes

And he and FGL helped Bell with her monologue, taping a segment poking fun at the Jay Z-Solange Knowles elevator dustup, complete with black-and-white security footage.

Underwood wins 3rd straight CMT video of year

Headscarf dustup: Jahan News reports that Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino (photo), who visited Tehran last month, was "forced" to wear a headscarf during the visit.

Headscarf dustup

A"playground" parish pump dustup in a genteel Warwickshire village has left taxpayers with a bill of thousands of pounds - after a ban on a veteran councillor was overturned following a High Court skirmish.

Parish council payout to the rebel member it tried to ban

Steven and Michelle Gesse got into a dustup with some neighbors, who accused the former of threatening one of them with a gun.

BOOKSHELF

If NHTSA decides to open an investigation, it wouldn't be the first dustup between Toyota and the agency.

Toyota to recall Lexus SUVs to fix floor mat

While there was some dustup in the changeover of ownership of The Times Co.

HALIFAX STILL GROWING: BUYS 19 FREEDOM TITLES Post-Chapter 11 Freedom winding down; only papers left are in California

But now it has emerged Mr Openshaw was lured to the scene for a pre-arranged dustup after a dispute broke out over an unpaid drugs debt.

A musk world of drugs & debts... Seizure hearing told of revenge and shooting

LEWIS Hamilton walked away from a potential dustup with Felipe Massa following a bitter post-race showdown between the duo.

Massa and Hamilton clash again; MOTORSPORT

It turns out they'd had a dustup at the funeral of a permanent deacon just that week.

Working women

Of course, the media dustup and subsequent blogitis has lots of folks laughing (again) at the Catholic church.

Church deserves plain talk about moral issues