roll up

roll up

1. To curl, turn, or crumple something in on itself so that it takes up less space. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "roll" and "up." Would you mind rolling up this tarpaulin for me? He rolled the napkin up into a ball and shoved it into his pocket.

2. To curl, turn, or crumple in on oneself. I rolled up in a ball when they started punching me. The woodlice roll up if you touch them.

3. To surround or enfold someone or something in something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "roll" and "up." I let the kids roll me up in the carpet as a game, but then I couldn't get out! I roll the cheese and ham in pastry, then bake it all together for 30 minutes.

4. To arrive (at or to something) in a very casual manner, especially after something was supposed to start. That's the last time I invited Jeff to a dinner party—we were nearly finished with the main course by the time he decided to roll up. I don't think it matters what time we roll up, so let's not rush.

5. To accumulate a great amount of something. We rolled up our fortunes with a line of smartphones that were affordable for nearly everyone in the country to own. The team rolled up a huge lead in the first quarter of the game.

See also: roll, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

roll something up

 (into something)

1. to include something into something that is being rotated into a coil. I guess I accidentally rolled the letter up into the poster that was lying on my desk. I rolled up the letter into the poster.

2. to make something into a round shape by rolling it. He rolled the gum up into a ball and tossed it away. Jane rolled up the dough into a ball.

See also: roll, up

roll something up

to coil or rotate something into a coil or roll of something. I rolled the poster up and put it back in its mailing tube. I have to roll up this paper.

See also: roll, up

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

roll up

1. Accumulate, as in He rolled up a fortune in commodity trading, or She rolled up a huge number of votes in this district. [Mid-1800s]

2. Arrive in a vehicle, as in They rolled up in a taxi at exactly eight o'clock.

See also: roll, up

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

roll up

v.

1. To fold or turn something inward several times in order to make it more compact: Please roll up the poster before it gets torn. We rolled the carpet up so we could dance on the wooden floor.

2. To assume a coiled or spiral form: The snail rolled up in its shell.

3. To arrive in a vehicle: The celebrity rolled up to the theater in a white limousine.

4. To envelop or enfold something in a covering: Roll the dirty laundry up in a sheet. I rolled up the rags in a tarp and threw them out.

5. To accumulate or amass something: The investors rolled up a large fortune.

See also: roll, up

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.