hoover up

To remove dirt or small pieces by sucking them into a machine that cleans floors.

• Please hoover up those crumbs.
• I hoovered up the dust under the bed.
• She spilled some rice and hoovered it up.

How to use it: hoover something up (I hoovered the crumbs up after lunch.); hoover up something (Please hoover up the dust.)

Similar words: vacuum up, suck up

Common phrases: hoover up crumbs, hoover up dust, hoover up something

To quickly take in or collect large amounts of something.

• The app hoovers up personal data.
• Investors hoovered up all the available shares.
• She hoovers up every book about space.

How to use it: hoover up something (Large companies hoover up smaller businesses.); hoover something up (The investors hoovered the cheap shares up.)

Similar words: gobble up, scoop up, absorb

Common phrases: hoover up data, hoover up information, hoover up something

To clean a room or floor with a machine that sucks up dirt.

• I need to hoover up.
• She hoovered up before the guests arrived.
• Can you hoover up while I wash the dishes?

Similar words: vacuum, hoover

Common phrases: hoover up downstairs, hoover up upstairs

To eat or drink something very quickly and eagerly.

• He hoovered up his lunch.
• The hungry children hoovered up every biscuit.
• She barely spoke while hoovering up her pasta.

How to use it: hoover something up (The children hoovered their dinner up.)

Similar words: wolf down, gobble up, devour

Common phrases: hoover up food, hoover up dinner, hoover up something