1
general::
Phrase(s): rev something up
to make an idling engine run very fast, in short bursts of power. • Hey! Stop revving it up! • I wish that Tom wouldn’t sit out in front of our house in his car and rev up his engine., Phrase(s): rev up
to increase in amount or activity. • Production revved up after the strike. • We’re hoping business will rev up soon.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
Increase the speed or rate of, enliven, stimulate, as in Bill revved up the motor, or They looked for ways to rev up the ad campaign. The verb rev is an abbreviation for revolution, alluding to the rate of rotation of an engine. The idiom dates from about 1920 and has been used figuratively since the mid-1900s.
American Heritage Idioms