shore up

Idioms and Phrases

Support, prop, as in The new law was designed to shore up banks in danger of failure . This expression derives from the noun shore , meaning “prop,” a beam or timber propped against a structure to provide support. The verb shore dates from 1340 and was first recorded in a figurative context in 1581.

Example Sentences

Jurado, in an interview on Wednesday, said she disagreed with De León’s emphasis on shoring up Latino power, which she said “sowed racial division.”

From Los Angeles Times

Boeing has been trying to shore up its finances and end the strike, which has now cost it nearly $10bn, according to consulting firm Anderson Economic Group.

From BBC

Boeing has been trying to end the strike and shore up its finances.

From BBC

Farrell touts a “zero-tolerance approach to crime,” with promises to shore up police staffing and crack down on drug dealers.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s a compelling clean sweep that shores up the softer parts of the Democratic coalition while also improving Harris’s chances with suburban swing voters.

From Salon

Related Words

• add to
• bolster
• boost
• build up
• buttress
• emphasize
• enlarge
• fortify
• increase
• stress
• support
• underline