PhrasesHub

Ginger up

    Definitions

      • Encourage or stimulate someone
        To motivate or inspire someone to take action or complete a task

      • Add flavor or zest to something
        To enhance the taste or excitement of something

    Examples of Ginger up

    • She gingered up the sales team with her inspiring speech.

      To "ginger up" means to encourage, motivate, or energize someone or something. In this example, the speaker is saying that the woman's inspiring speech helped to motivate and energize the sales team.

    • He gingered up the crowd with his energetic performance.

      In this example, "gingering up" refers to making a group of people more enthusiastic or excited. The man's energetic performance was able to make the crowd more excited and lively.

    • The rough terrain gingered up our muscles during the hike.

      This example uses "ginger up" to describe the physical effect that exercise or physical activity can have on the body. The challenging terrain during the hike helped to strengthen and energize the muscles of the speaker and their companions.

    • She gingered up her cooking skills with the help of a new recipe book.

      Here, "gingering up" refers to improving or enhancing a skill or ability. The woman used a new recipe book to help improve and enhance her cooking skills.

    • The football coach gingered up the team before their crucial match by delivering a fiery pre-game speech.

      This usage of "ginger up" means to inspire, motivate, or energize someone, usually by using strong words or actions. In this example, the coach's speech was designed to stimulate and invigorate the team, causing them to play with increased intensity and passion during the game.

    • The marketing team gingered up the sales campaign by adding a new, eye-catching promotion to the mix.

      In this example, "ginger up" refers to making a campaign or project more exciting, interesting, and effective by adding something that will grab the attention of potential customers or clients.

    • The teacher gingered up the class by asking them thought-provoking questions and encouraging them to share their insights and opinions.

      Here, "ginger up" suggests making an activity or experience more stimulating and engaging by introducing dynamic, interactive elements that challenge and excite participants.

    • The project manager gingered up the team by assigning them an ambitious, high-stakes goal that would require them to work together creatively and collaboratively.

      This example shows that "ginger up" can refer to setting a lofty, inspiring objective or challenge that will energize and excite a group, driving them to perform at their best and produce outstanding results.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "ginger up" is typically used to describe the act of motivating or inspiring someone to take action or to add excitement to something. It can also be used to describe the act of adding flavor or zest to something, both literally and figuratively. The intention behind this idiom is to encourage or stimulate someone or something in a positive way.

    In the first meaning, "ginger up" is often used as a way to advise someone to take action or to provide motivation for them to complete a task. It can also be used to caution against a lack of enthusiasm or to urge someone to be more enthusiastic about something.

    In the second meaning, "ginger up" is used to describe adding flavor or excitement to something. This can be used in a literal sense when talking about cooking or adding spices to a dish, or in a figurative sense when talking about adding excitement to a situation or event.

    Origin of "Ginger up"

    The origin of the idiom "ginger up" is thought to come from the use of ginger as a stimulant in traditional medicine. Ginger has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments and is known to have energizing properties. Therefore, the phrase "ginger up" may have originated from the idea of using ginger to stimulate or encourage someone.

    Another theory suggests that the idiom may have come from the use of ginger in horse racing. It was believed that giving a horse ginger before a race would make them more spirited and energetic, thus increasing their chances of winning. This idea of "gingering up" a horse may have eventually evolved into the more general meaning of encouraging or stimulating someone.

    Overall, the origin of the idiom "ginger up" is not entirely clear, but it is likely based on the idea of using ginger as a stimulant or energizer. This has translated into the modern usage of the idiom to describe encouraging or adding excitement to someone or something.