swot up

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Explanation of "Swot Up"

Definition: "Swot up" is a British English phrasal verb that means to study something intensively, often in preparation for an exam or a test. It implies that you are putting a lot of effort into learning or reviewing material.

Usage Instructions

• Form: "Swot up" is a verb and is often followed by the subject you are studying. For example, you can say, "I need to swot up on my history facts."
• Tense: You can use it in different tenses:
  • Present: "I swot up."
  • Past: "I swotted up."
  • Future: "I will swot up."

Examples

1. Basic Example: "I need to swot up on my math formulas before the test."
2. In Context: "Before the big exam, Sarah swotted up on all her notes to ensure she was prepared."

Advanced Usage

In more advanced contexts, you might hear "swot up" used in discussions about specific subjects or skills, such as:

Word Variants

• Swot: As a noun, "swot" refers to a person who studies hard, often used in a slightly negative way (e.g., "He's such a swot; he never goes out.").
• Swotted: The past participle of "swot," used to describe the action of having studied intensively.

Different Meanings

"Swot up" primarily focuses on intensive study, but the word "swot" alone can refer to someone who is overly studious or nerdy. It's important to be mindful of the context in which you use it, as it can sometimes carry a teasing connotation.

Synonyms

Here are some synonyms for "swot up": - Study intensively - Bone up (another informal expression with a similar meaning, more commonly used in American English) - Cram (to study a lot in a short period, usually just before an exam)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While "swot up" is a specific phrasal verb, here are a few related idioms and phrases that might be helpful:

Summary

To "swot up" means to study hard, especially when preparing for an exam. Use it when you want to describe putting in significant effort to learn something specific. Remember, it can also carry a slightly humorous or teasing tone when referring to someone who studies a lot.

Academic

Verb

1. study intensively, as before an exam
   • I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam

Synonyms

• cram
• grind away
• drum
• bone up
• swot
• get up
• mug up
• bone