noun

• 1British The process of washing used crockery, cutlery, and other kitchen utensils.

  ‘they've finished the washing-up’

  More example sentences

  • ‘And the fact that you eat them out of the tin means less washing-up than your average pie.’
  • ‘The other advantage is that there is very little washing-up as it is served from the pan it was cooked in.’
  • ‘They had been through this situation before; if the draining board is full, Kimberley dries what she can while Beck finishes off the washing-up.’
  • ‘With just Gordon, alias Black Jake, and 17-year-old Adam, as crew, we all took turns with the cooking, washing-up, and night-time watches.’
  • ‘It is much larger than the average minuscule Japanese hotel room, with the convenience of a fully fitted kitchen but without the hassle of having to do the washing-up - dishwashers and housekeeping teams are on hand to take care of all that.’
  • ‘The downside of this is that the noise of running a tap, cleaning your teeth or doing the washing-up can blot out words and phrases leaving you astonished or bewildered by what you think you heard.’
  • ‘After dinner when the washing-up was done, we would then sit on the porch and star gaze, talking for what seemed to be hours about the night sky.’
  • ‘Dinner ended quickly, and Shaila hurried through the washing-up.’

  1. 1.1Crockery, cutlery, and other kitchen utensils that are to be washed.
     ‘the sink is full of washing-up’
     More example sentences

     • ‘The washing-up is left to build up (another excuse) and is done once a day or the sink is left half full and hot water from the kettle goes in when I've made a cup of tea and I catch up on the things hanging around.’
     • ‘This is a clever production that takes you deep into the heartland of motherhood - the kitchen - and discovers weeping, wailing, bleakness, sudden catastrophe and piles of washing-up.’
     • ‘We haven't done this in a while, as most meals have been defined by their lack of preparation and cooking, the minimal washing-up created, and by their ability to be eaten whilst sitting cross legged on the floor.’
     • ‘This includes ‘emptying down work surfaces, cleaning the sink and cooker and wiping paintwork’ - though the bedders are not expected to fight through piles of washing-up.’