Brew up Meaning in English
expression
ˈbɹu/ /ˈəp
BROO-uhp
bɹˈuː/ /ˈʌp
broo-UP
Definition
To make tea or coffee by mixing it with hot water. Also, to describe when something (like trouble or a storm) is starting to develop.
Usage & Nuances
Informal and often British. Used both literally for making hot drinks ('brew up some tea') and figuratively for forming trouble, tension, or storms ('trouble is brewing up'). Not common in American English as an idiom for problems; 'brew' alone can be confused with alcohol.
Spanish: preparar (té, café) - avecinarse (tormenta, problema)Portuguese (BR): preparar (chá, café) - estar se formando (tempestade, problema)Portuguese (PT): preparar (chá, café) - aproximar-se (tempestade, problema)Chinese (Simplified): 冲泡（茶、咖啡）- 酝酿（风暴、问题）Chinese (Traditional): 沖泡（茶、咖啡）- 醞釀（風暴、問題）Hindi: बनाना (चाय या कॉफी)- बनना (तूफान या समस्या)Arabic: يحضر (شاي، قهوة) - يتكوّن (عاصفة، مشكلة)Bengali: তৈরি করা (চা, কফি) - আসন্ন হওয়া (ঝড়, সমস্যা)Russian: заваривать (чай, кофе) - назревать (буря, проблема)Japanese: 淹れる（お茶・コーヒー）- 起こりそうになる（嵐・問題）Vietnamese: pha (trà, cà phê) - đang hình thành (bão, vấn đề)Korean: 끓이다 (차, 커피) - 일어나려 하다 (폭풍, 문제)Turkish: demlemek (çay, kahve) - yaklaşmak (fırtına, sorun)Urdu: تیار کرنا (چائے، کافی) - بننا (طوفان، مسئلہ)Indonesian: menyeduh (teh, kopi) - akan terjadi (badai, masalah)
Example Sentences
Let's brew up some coffee before we start.
basic
They often brew up tea in the afternoon.
basic
A storm is starting to brew up outside.
basic
Do you want me to brew up a fresh pot of tea?
natural
You could tell something was brewing up between them.
natural
Watch out—trouble is brewing up at the office.
natural