serve up: meaning & examples

Open in app

Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    USUKWidespreadneutralinformal
    • To provide or present food or drink for consumption.
    • To serve a prepared portion or course at a meal or café.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The waiter served up the main course with a smile, making sure everything was perfect.

      The waiter served up the main course with a smile, making sure everything was perfect.

    • Every Sunday, grandma serves up a delicious roast for the whole family to enjoy.

      Every Sunday, grandma serves up a delicious roast for the whole family to enjoy.

    • At the cafe, they served up fresh pastries and coffee to early customers.

      At the cafe, they served up fresh pastries and coffee to early customers.

    • The chef served up a variety of appetizers before the main meal was ready.

      The chef served up a variety of appetizers before the main meal was ready.

  • 2.

    USUKWidespreadinformalcolloquial
    • To present, offer, or deliver something non‑tangible (such as an idea, emotion, entertainment, or abstract result).
    • To present or produce something for consideration or reception by others.

    Examples

    Beta

    • During the meeting, the presenter served up impressive statistics to support her argument.

      During the meeting, the presenter served up impressive statistics to support her argument.

    • The comedian served up witty jokes that had the audience laughing nonstop.

      The comedian served up witty jokes that had the audience laughing nonstop.

    • The documentary served up a powerful message about climate change that moved many viewers.

      The documentary served up a powerful message about climate change that moved many viewers.

    • The author served up a compelling narrative that kept readers hooked until the last page.

      The author served up a compelling narrative that kept readers hooked until the last page.

  • 3.

    USUKWidespreadinformalcolloquial
    • To deliver or inflict (a result such as defeat, humiliation, or punishment) upon someone.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The team served up a humiliating defeat to their rivals in the championship match.

      The team served up a humiliating defeat to their rivals in the championship match.

    • The prank served up a harsh lesson, and he won't be careless again anytime soon.

      The prank served up a harsh lesson, and he won't be careless again anytime soon.

    • During the debate, she served up a strong rebuttal that left her opponent speechless.

      During the debate, she served up a strong rebuttal that left her opponent speechless.

  • 4.

    InternationalWidespreadneutraljargon (sports)
    • To serve the ball in a game such as tennis or volleyball (to put the ball into play by serving).

    Examples

    Beta

    • In the final set, she served up an ace that won her the match.

      In the final set, she served up an ace that won her the match.

    • He served up a powerful volleyball that the opposing team couldn’t return.

      He served up a powerful volleyball that the opposing team couldn’t return.

    • During the game, the player served up consistently strong serves to keep his opponents on edge.

      During the game, the player served up consistently strong serves to keep his opponents on edge.

Examples:

  • EN: And now she'll serve up her hat.
    ES: Y te sirve de sombrero.
  • EN: - Thank you. Can I serve up now?
    ES: ¿Puedo servir ya?
  • EN: And now she'll serve up her hat.
    ES: Y te sirve de sombrero.
  • EN: - Thank you. Can I serve up now?
    ES: ¿Puedo servir ya?
  • EN: Al, serve up a nice, creamy strawberry jigger.
    ES: Al, ponme un cremoso jigger de fresa.
  • EN: Al, serve up a nice, creamy double strawberry jigger, on me.
    ES: Sírvele un cremoso jigger de fresa doble a mi cuenta.
  • EN: --to a lovely little café where they serve up the best coffee... ... andguitarmusicinthewhole city.
    ES: ...a una cafetería encantadora donde tienen el mejor café y la mejor música de guitarra de toda la ciudad.
  • EN: But they serve up hope.
    ES: Pero sirven esperanza.
  • EN: You're gonna serve up nothing but rainbows and moonbeams.
    ES: Tu dedícate a dar solamente arco irises y rayos de luna
  • EN: Once I have a sister in a Madrid café who serve up a meal like this!
    ES: Tuve una hermana en un bar de Madrid que servía esto.
  • EN: But when the morning guest arrives, They serve up breakfast gladly!
    ES: ¡Pero cuando llegan los invitados mañaneros sirven desayuno alegremente!
  • EN: - They serve up breakfast gladly!
    ES: - ¡Sirven desayuno alegremente!
  • EN: "God created the peanut so you could serve up Suavilor, "the ultra-pure oil, lighter than an angel's feather. "With Suavilor, prepare simple and easy-to-digest meals.
    ES: Dios creó el maní, para que Ud. pueda pueda poner Suavilor sobre su mesa, el aceite ultra-puro, más liviano que una pluma de ángel, y con el cual Ud. preparará platos fáciles de digerir.
  • EN: Let's just serve up the pie.
    ES: Mejor sirvamos el pastel.
  • EN: What else could I serve up?
    ES: -¿Qué otra cosa puedo hacer?
  • EN: We serve up wars and disasters like mealtime snacks.
    ES: Nos burlamos, cotorreamos, halagamos.
  • EN: A bored husband, fed up with leftovers in the bedroom as well as the kitchen, starts eyeing the cute little pastry tart next door who's only too happy to serve up a little dessert.
    ES: Un marido aburrido, harto de sobras en el dormitorio, así como la cocina, comienza mirando la pequeña tarta de pastelería lindo de al lado que solo es demasiado feliz para servir un poco de postre.

More Idioms

Validation Count: 0

Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

serve up: Meaning, Examples & Usage (English) | Idiomator