soup

 
Pronunciation: /suːp/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a liquid dish, typically savoury and made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables etc. in stock or water: a bowl of tomato soup
  • 2a substance or mixture regarded as resembling soup in appearance or consistency: the waves and the water beyond have become a thick brown soup
  • informal the chemicals in which film is developed.
  • 3US informal nitroglycerine or gelignite, especially as used for safe-breaking.

verb

[with object] (soup something up, often as adjective souped-up) informal
  • increase the power and efficiency of an engine or other machine: a souped-up Ford with big rear wheels
    [ 1930s, perhaps influenced by super-]
  • make something more elaborate or impressive: we had to soup up the show for the new venue

Phrases

from soup to nuts

North American informal from beginning to end; completely: I know all about that game from soup to nuts

in the soup

informal in trouble: I’ve lost the money—I’m in the soup

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French soupe 'sop, broth (poured on slices of bread)', from late Latin suppa, of Germanic origin