brass up

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To pay a debt or hand over money.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

"What did he soak him? Five quid?" "Yes, sir." "And Gussie brassed up and was free?"

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To shell.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “brass up” mean?

To pay a debt or hand over money.

Is “brass up” formal or informal?

brass up is generally slang.