Definition

Verb: 1. To administer a narcotic or stupefying drug to someone: The action of giving a drug, often illicitly or unethically, to a person or animal to alter their state, typically to sedate them or, in the context of sports, to illegally enhance performance.

Usage

This verb is transitive and requires a direct object (the person or animal being drugged). It often carries a negative connotation, implying deception, illegality, or a lack of consent. * The veterinarian had to dope up the agitated horse for safe transport. * It is illegal for coaches to dope up their athletes before a competition.

Examples

• The sinister character in the novel planned to dope up the guard to gain access to the vault.
• Authorities warned that some unscrupulous handlers might dope up greyhounds to affect the race's outcome.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used in a passive voice construction: "The patient was doped up on strong painkillers after the surgery."
• It can sometimes be used informally and hyperbolically to describe making someone feel lethargic or mentally dull, as if by a drug: "That heavy lunch really doped me up; I can barely stay awake."

Variants and Related Words

• Dope (verb): To administer a drug to or add a substance to. (e.g., They found evidence that the horse had been doped.)
• Doped (adjective): Under the influence of narcotics. (e.g., The doped athlete was disqualified.)
• Doping (noun): The practice of using performance-enhancing drugs in sports. (e.g., The scandal involved widespread doping.)

Synonyms

• Drug (verb): To administer a drug to, especially one that causes unconsciousness.
• Sedate: To administer a sedative drug to.
• Narcotize: To subject to the influence of a narcotic.

Phrasal Verbs

• Dope up is itself a phrasal verb. There are no further common phrasal verbs derived directly from it.

Related Idioms

• Doped to the gills: (Slang) Heavily under the influence of drugs.
• No other common idioms are directly centered on the phrase "dope up."

Verb

1. give a narcotic to
   • The athletes were dope by the coach before the race