Question 1

What does "color up" mean?

Accepted Answer

(Of a person) to blush or become visibly red in the face, especially from embarrassment.

Question 2

How do you use "color up" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

She colored up the moment he walked into the room and smiled at her.

Question 3

Is "color up" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"color up" is informal — used mainly in casual conversation. The 'blush' sense is the most common; it is mainly British English despite the American spelling used here — both 'color up' and 'colour up' are used across varieties. The 'add colour' sense is less frequent. Often used for describing a spontaneous, involuntary reaction.

color up

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