hack up

1. To cut something into pieces, often in a clumsy or sloppy manner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hack" and "up." We need to hack up these big branches. Quit hacking up the roast and just let Dad cut it, will you? Why am I so itchy? Please tell me I haven't been hacking up some poisonous plant this whole time.

2. To wreck, mar, or otherwise spoil something's appearance, usually by cutting. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hack" and "up." I'll never use that landscaper again, not with the way he hacked up my poor bushes! I see that her kite got stuck in a tree. I just don't know how to get it down without hacking it up in the process! Well, when you have no artistic ability, and you have to do a unit on printmaking in art class, you just hack up linoleum block for weeks on end.

3. To expel something by coughing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hack" and "up." Gross, my cat just hacked up another hairball. Please tell me that cough medicine is gonna start working soon—I'm sick of listening to hack up phlegm every few minutes! A: "What's wrong? You look so scared." B: "Yeah, that's because I just hacked up some blood."

hack something up

1. Lit. to chop something up into pieces. (Refers often to wood.) Hack all this old furniture up, and we'll burn it in the fireplace. Hack up this stuff, and we'll burn it.

2. Fig. to damage or mangle something. Who hacked my windowsill up? Who hacked up my table?

hack up

1. To cut or chop something into pieces, usually with little care: The cook hacked up the potatoes and dumped them in the pot. We hacked the wood up and threw it in the fireplace.

2. To mangle or disfigure something, especially by cutting: That barber hacked up your hair badly! I accidentally hacked the shrubs up with the electric clippers.

3. To force something from the throat or lungs and out of the mouth by coughing: The patient hacked some phlegm up. My cat hacked up some blood, so I made an appointment with the vet.