patch-up

[ pach-uhp ]

noun

1. an act or instance of patching or repair.

adjective

1. done by patching or fixing:

   a quick patch-up job.

Word History and Origins

Origin of patch-up¹

First recorded in 1900–05; noun, adj. use of verb phrase patch up

Idioms and Phrases

Mend or repair, make whole. For example, He managed to patch up the lawn mower so it's running , or John cut his hand badly, but they patched him up in the emergency room , or Mike and Molly have patched up their differences . This term alludes to mending something by putting patches of material on it. [Second half of 1500s]

Example Sentences

Last season United’s opponents registered 620 transitions reaching the final third, more than any other Premier League side, reflecting the enormous gap Ugarte was signed to patch up.

From BBC

She wrote: "I look at my tear-streaked reflection in the mirror, patch up the damaged foundation, breathe deeply, walk out of the dressing room, put on a smile and walk through a busy newsroom, and on to the set."

From BBC

It becomes harder still when she attempts to patch up the empathy chasm with a delineation between male and female bosses.

From Salon

“This virus mutates incredibly quickly, and so we need to patch up our immunity walls to make sure we can recognize this vaccine or recognize the virus as it changes, and that is one driving factor why we have updated vaccines every fall.”

From Salon

Forcing residents in neighborhoods with higher crime rates to live under constant, all-seeing digital scrutiny will neither make people safer from the systematic harms they face, including police violence, nor patch up their rocky relationship with the police who are sworn to protect and serve them.

From Slate