bone up (verb)

1. Before presenting their design proposal to the client, the architecture team had to bone up on the latest trends in sustainable construction.

2. In order to defeat the fire-breathing dragon and save the kingdom, the young wizard had to bone up on ancient spells and potions.

3. The aspiring novelist spent hours in the library, boning up on classic works of literature to improve their own writing skills.

4. To create a spine-chilling atmosphere in his horror novel, the author bone up on terrifying urban legends and ghost stories.