Words / A2

wosh-ing-UP/ˌwɒʃɪŋˈʌp/

Washing-up is cleaning plates and pans after a meal: do the washing-up, washing-up liquid, leave the washing-up. British English prefers washing-up; American English often says do the dishes. Dry is the next job with a tea towel. Uncountable. Do not write washing up as two loose words when you mean the chore noun — hyphenate the noun.

Meaning

The job of washing plates and pans after a meal.

Examples

• “I’ll do the washing-up if you dry.”
• “There was a week of washing-up after the party.”
• “She put on gloves for the washing-up.”

Good to know

do the washing-up (British). US cousin: do the dishes. Related: washing-up liquid.

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