Meaning of perk up | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To become more upright
   intransitive
2. To become more lively or enthusiastic.
   intransitive
3. To cause to be more upright, straighten up.
   transitive
4. to cause to be more lively or enthusiastic.
   transitive
5. To exalt oneself, take on a higher status or position.
   intransitive, obsolete

Equivalents

Examples

“His ears perked up when he heard there would be ice cream.”

“The Lion bowed down his head and whispered something to Puzzle [the donkey] at which his long ears went down; but then he said something else at which the ears perked up again.”

“In hopes the coming Scenes your Mirth will raise⟳ To you, the Iust pretenders to the Bays; The Poet humbly thus a Reverence pays And you, the Contraries, that hate⟳ the Pains Of Labour’d Sense⟳, or of Improving Brains: That feel⟳ the Lashes in a well-writ Play⟳, He bids perk up and smile⟳, the Satyr sleeps to Day.”

“For five minutes Pollyanna worked swiftly, deftly, combing a refractory curl into fluffiness, perking up a drooping ruffle at the neck, or shaking a pillow into plumpness so that the head might have⟳ a better pose. Meanwhile the sick woman, frowning prodigiously, and openly scoffing at the whole procedure, was, in spite of herself, beginning to tingle with a feeling perilously near to excitement.”

“In lifting her arms to perk up the bow at her throat, she knocked a hat off the bracket.”

“[…] ’tis better to be lowly born, And range with humble livers in content, Than to be perk’d up in a glistering grief, And wear⟳ a golden sorrow.”

“When this fair Traveller, with heat opprest, And the days Toyls, here laid him down to rest⟳ Where the soft Grass, and the thick Trees, displaid A flowry Couch, and a cool Arbour made About him round the grassy spires (in hope⟳ To gain⟳ a kisse) their verdant heads perk’d up.”

“Here the women perked up their ears; and were all silent attention.”

““I’ve been on the water wagon myself. But a drink⟳ might perk me up.””

“[…] they should not give⟳ heed to Women, that would be perking up in matters of Worshiping God.”

“[…] there is too frequently Combinations made amongst the rest⟳, to cross and quash whatever they shall propose⟳, be it never so just, and reasonable, and nothing alledged for it, but that they are mean⟳, proud, busie people, and will perk up too much above their Betters, if they be not thus mortified, and kept under […]”

CEFR level