rough up
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
to manhandle or beat up
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The gangsters roughed him up a little.
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 make rough, to roughen (especially doing so to wood while raising the grain)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “rough up” mean?
to manhandle or beat up
Is “rough up” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.