key up

verb

1. tr, adverb to raise the intensity, excitement, tension, etc, of

Idioms and Phrases

Make intense, excited, or nervous. For example, The excitement of the gallery opening has really keyed her up . This usage alludes to key in the sense of “wind up a spring-driven mechanism such as a clock.” [Late 1800s]

Related Words

• agitate
• arouse
• awaken
• disturb
• fire up
• galvanize
• heighten
• incite
• inflame
• kindle
• provoke
• rile
• startle
• stir
• trigger
• wake up
• whip up
• work up