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]

Example Sentences

Sergeant Walpole saw his hand flicking a key up and down in the faint light of radio bulbs.

From Project Gutenberg

Lock the door, Carey, and hang the key up in plain sight by the window there.

From Project Gutenberg

After he'd got into the room he'd put the key up, wouldn't he?

From Project Gutenberg

The effect of that always is to awaken to new alertness and vigor every mental power, as well as to key up every moral resolve.

From Project Gutenberg

"Mrs. Packard took the key up to her room," I explained, thinking that some sort of explanation was in order.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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