English · Phrasal verb Attested

perk up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To become more upright

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Trở nên thẳng hơn

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

His ears perked up when he heard there would be ice cream.

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).

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To become more lively or enthusiastic.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Trở nên sôi động hoặc nhiệt tình hơn.

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

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

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To cause to be more upright, straighten up.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Làm cho thẳng hơn, đứng thẳng lên.

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

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

Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.

What does “perk up” mean?

To become more upright

Is “perk up” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

What is the closest equivalent?

“hoá trang” (Tiếng Việt) — near equivalent.