stack up

1. Make sense, seem plausible, as in Her explanation just doesn't stack up . Also see add up , def. 2.

2. Measure up, equal, as in Their gift doesn't stack up against mine . This usage alludes to piling up one's chips at poker, and comparing them to those of the other players. [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

He claimed that the evidence was “stacking up that the Southport attack was carried out by a migrant”.

From BBC

Just as everything seemed to stack up against her, the young actor flipped the script.

From BBC

“It's a very little thing, but it seems to stack up”, he added.

From BBC

Trump then stacked up Harris' electoral and debate record against his own, trotting out the moldy idea that having to face Harris after planning for a rematch against Biden is unfair to him.

From Salon

Contrary to conclusions by the Department of Energy and the FBI, the science on the pandemic’s origins stacks up in favor of a jump from animals to humans.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accelerate
• advance
• ascend
• build
• climb
• double
• expand
• go up
• improve
• lift
• move up
• multiply
• pick up
• raise
• soar
• swell