startle up
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To flush a target, usually birds and often accidentally.
Register: dated
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Take care not to startle up the quail.
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).
Common questions
What does “startle up” mean?
To flush a target, usually birds and often accidentally.
Is “startle up” formal or informal?
startle up is generally dated.