key up

To make someone feel nervous and excited.

• The noise keyed me up.
• She was too keyed up to sleep before the exam.
• Does waiting for results key you up?

How to use it: key someone up (The long wait keyed everyone up.); be keyed up about something (She was keyed up about the interview.)

Similar words: agitate, excite, unnerve

Opposites: calm, relax

Common phrases: key someone up, key up someone

To make the excitement, tension, or force of something stronger.

• The drums keyed up the excitement.
• They keyed up the drama with a sudden change of lighting.
• A faster pace can key up the tension.

How to use it: key up something (The music keyed up the tension in the scene.)

Similar words: heighten, intensify, increase

Opposites: reduce

Common phrases: key up tension, key up something, key something up

To force the top stone into an arch, lifting the arch clear of its temporary support.

• The builders keyed up the arch.
• They used a heavy hammer to key it up.
• Each stone arch must be keyed up before its temporary support is removed.

How to use it: key up something (The masons keyed up the arch before removing its support.)

Common phrases: key up something, key something up, key up arches

To make a musical sound or piece higher in pitch.

• The musician keyed up the tune.
• Can you key it up by a semitone?
• They keyed up the melody for the new singer.

How to use it: key up something (They keyed up the song to suit her voice.)

Similar words: transpose up, raise

Opposites: lower

Common phrases: key up something, key something up, key up music