1
general::
Phrase(s): dry something up
1. to cause moisture to dry away to nothing. • Dry this spill up with the hair dryer. • Will the hair dryer dry up this mess? 2. to cure a skin rash by the use of medicine that dries. • Let’s use some of this to try to dry that rash up. • This medicine will dry up your rash in a few days., Phrase(s): dry up
1. Lit. [for something] to dry away to nothing. • Finally, the water on the track dried up, and the race was able to continue. • When will the fields dry up so we can plant? 2. Fig. [for someone] to be quiet or go away. • Dry up, you jerk! • I wish you would dry up!
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Gradually become unproductive, as in After two collections of short stories, his ability to write fiction dried up. Also see WELL'S RUN DRY. 2. Stop talking; also, cause to stop talking. For example, Dry up! You've said enough. [Slang; mid-1800s]
American Heritage Idioms