spice up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To make something more interesting, exciting, or flavorful: The action of adding zest, variety, or piquancy to an activity, situation, or narrative.
- To add herbs or spices to food: The culinary action of seasoning a dish to enhance its flavor.
Usage Examples
- Verb (making more interesting):
- She told a funny story to spice up the meeting.
- We need to spice up the website design to attract more visitors.
- Verb (adding seasoning):
- You can spice up the soup with a little cayenne pepper.
- I like to spice up plain rice with some cumin and turmeric.
Advanced Usage
- "to spice something up": This is the standard phrasal verb structure, where the object (the thing being made more exciting or flavorful) comes between "spice" and "up."
- He bought some new artwork to spice his apartment up.
- Used figuratively to describe revitalizing a routine or relationship.
- They went on a weekend trip to spice up their marriage.
Variants and Related Words
- Spicy (adj): Having a strong, pungent flavor from spices; or figuratively, slightly provocative or exciting.
- The curry was very spicy.
- The novel contained some spicy details.
- Spice (n): A substance, such as pepper or cinnamon, used to flavor food; or figuratively, something that adds interest or excitement.
- Variety is the spice of life.
Synonyms
- Enliven: To make more lively or cheerful.
- Liven up: To make more active or exciting.
- Season: To add salt, herbs, or spices to food.
- Zest: To add excitement or interest (often used as "zest up").
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Pep up: To make something more lively or energetic.
- A good cup of coffee will pep you up in the morning.
- Jazz up: To make something more attractive or exciting (informal).
- Let's jazz up the report with some charts and graphics.
Related Idioms
- Add a little spice: To introduce something that makes a situation more interesting.
- His controversial comments always add a little spice to the debate.
- Variety is the spice of life: A proverb meaning that new and different experiences make life more interesting.
Verb
- make more interesting or flavorful
- Spice up the evening by inviting a belly dancer
- add herbs or spices to