english
1
general::
Phrase(s): buy something up to buy all of something; to buy the entire supply of something. • He bought the oranges up from all the groves. • He bought up all the oranges and drove up the price.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
Purchase all that is available, as in They want to buy up all the land in this area. This term was first recorded in a law enacted under Henry VIII: "They buy up all manner of fish."
American Heritage Idioms