pepper up
The phrase "pepper up" can mean to invigorate someone or to enhance the flavor of food, and it has unique connotations in popular literature.
Definition
B2General
(slang)To make someone feel more lively or energetic.
Example
- A short walk in the fresh air will pepper you up.
- He needed a coffee to pepper himself up before the meeting.
B1Culinary
(informal)To add pepper or spices to food to enhance its flavor.
Example
- She likes to pepper up her pasta with extra chili flakes.
- He decided to pepper up the soup with some black pepper.
B2Literature
(specific)In the Harry Potter series, a magical potion that cures the common cold and causes steam to come out of the ears.
Example
- In Harry Potter, students drink Pepperup Potion to quickly recover from colds.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "pepper up":
pepper saucespice upblack pepperbird pepperhot pepperpepper potred peppergreen pepperpepper millpepper treesauce uppoor man's peppersugar uppepper spraycheese upjazz uppepper steakhoney upsex upsalt uppimp upperk uphot upamp upcayenne pepperroast uppink uppunch upjuice uppump upkick upspark upsimmer upsoup upcolor upjuiced upsparkle upturn up the heatfluff upspruce updope upsmoke upglaze uppork upamped upstiff upmix it upplump uppuff upblaze upstew upbuff uppower upfire upjazzed upheat upgoose upflame up