perk up

verb

1. to make or become more cheerful, hopeful, or lively
2. to rise or cause to rise briskly

   the dog's ears perked up

3. tr to make smarter in appearance

   she perked up her outfit with a bright scarf

4. slang.
   intr to vomit

Word History and Origins

Origin of perk up¹

C14 perk, perhaps from Norman French perquer; see perch ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Restore to good spirits, liveliness, or good appearance, as in You're exhausted, but a cup of tea will perk you up , or The flowers perked up the whole room . [Mid-1600s]

Example Sentences

Kroft’s interview was part of a promotional tour for “Quartet,” the 2012 feature directed by Dustin Hoffman, and eventually gets to a piece of trivia that made my ears perk up – the film represents the first time in some 50 films that Smith used the F-word onscreen.

From Salon

A: It’s an idea that has been popularized by online influencers: Avoid consuming caffeine for 90 to 120 minutes after waking up, they say, and you will perk up more naturally, thwart the dreaded afternoon slump and have better sleep.

From Seattle Times

“People don’t just drink for flavor. It helps people socialize, helps people unwind, helps people perk up. So we thought we could do that really well by coming at it from a new angle.”

From Seattle Times

It’s a dish of thrilling contrasts that shift from bite to bite — just the thing to perk up a turkey and snap pea meal.

From Seattle Times

She said that with others who don’t talk much perk up when given a VR experience putting them in nature.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• brighten
• mend
• take heart