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

Each of us believes what we choose to believe, and facts have become bricks to shore up the fortress of our own biases.

From The Daily Beast

It has taken more than that so far to just relocate the population and shore up the buildings.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, Iran is already working to shore up its Shi'ite allies in Baghdad.

From The Daily Beast

In July, to shore up support from the armed forces, he promoted 200 generals-—an all-time record.

From The Daily Beast

If the West was reconsolidating in the form of the G7, Russia tried a different tack to shore up its international defenses.

From The Daily Beast

I shall have to collect all my forces, and shore up afresh, before I dare use a tool.

From Project Gutenberg

Seems to me there are push poles being used to turn a boat in against the shore up above here a little ways.

From Project Gutenberg

I nearly ran full ag'inst a bunch of Injuns on the shore up yon, an' jist had time to creep back under cover.

From Project Gutenberg

A gang of men were at once set to work to shore up the embankment, and fill in the cavity made by the sea.

From Project Gutenberg

The soil was light and sandy, and they could use without suspicion as much timber as they required to shore up their work.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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