spark up

To light a cigarette, pipe, or similar thing and begin smoking.

• He stepped outside to spark up.
• She sparked up a cigarette after dinner.
• They were sparking up near the back door.

How to use it: spark up something (He sparked up a cigarette outside.)

Similar words: light up

Common phrases: spark up a cigarette, spark something up, spark up outside

To cause a conversation, argument, or discussion to begin.

• That question sparked up a conversation.
• His remark sparked up a heated debate.
• A joke can spark up a friendly chat.

How to use it: spark up something (Her question sparked up a debate about school lunches.)

Similar words: start, trigger, initiate

Common phrases: spark up a conversation, spark up a debate, spark something up

To make a fire, feeling, or relationship become active or strong again.

• The wind sparked up the dying fire.
• That letter sparked up old feelings.
• They hoped the trip would spark their romance up again.

How to use it: spark up something / spark something up (Their meeting sparked up an old friendship.)

Similar words: rekindle, revive

Common phrases: spark up something, spark something up, spark up old feelings

To make something more exciting, interesting, or enjoyable.

• Bright colors spark up the room.
• They added games to spark up the party.
• What could spark this dull evening up?

How to use it: spark up something / spark something up (Some lively music would spark the evening up.)

Similar words: liven up, spice up, brighten up

Common phrases: spark up something, spark something up, spark up a party

To light someone else’s cigarette, pipe, or similar thing for them.

• Can you spark me up?
• He sparked his friend up with a match.
• She held out her cigarette, and I sparked her up.

How to use it: spark someone up (Could you spark me up? My lighter is broken.)

Common phrases: spark someone up, spark up someone

To provide a place, machine, or system with electricity.

• They plan to spark up the line.
• The project sparked up several remote villages.
• New cables will let us spark the system up.

How to use it: spark up something / spark something up (The engineers planned to spark up the railway.)

Similar words: electrify

Common phrases: spark up something, spark something up, spark up the railway