propping up

Thân thiện

The workers are propping up the sagging wall with wooden beams.

Definition

Noun: - The act of supporting or holding something up, often to prevent it from falling or collapsing. This typically involves using a physical support, such as a prop, shore, or brace.

Usage

This noun phrase refers specifically to the action or process of providing external support to a structure or object. It is often used in contexts involving construction, maintenance, or stabilization where something is weak or unstable.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The propping up of the old mine tunnels was essential for safety.
  • The building required extensive propping up after the earthquake.

Advanced Usage

• Economic/Metaphorical Use: While the core meaning is physical, "propping up" can be used metaphorically to describe the act of providing financial or political support to prevent something from failing.
  • The government's propping up of the failing bank was controversial.
  • The constant propping up of the regime by foreign aid could not last forever.

Variants and Related Words

• Prop up (phrasal verb): To support or hold something up.
  • We used wooden beams to prop up the ceiling.
• Shore up (phrasal verb): A close synonym, often used interchangeably in the context of supporting structures.
  • Engineers worked to shore up the dam's foundation.
• Support (noun/verb): A more general term for holding up or assisting.
• Bracing (noun): The act of strengthening or supporting.

Synonyms

• Shoring up
• Buttressing
• Underpinning
• Reinforcement

Related Phrases

• Prop up (phrasal verb): As noted above, this is the verb form from which the noun "propping up" is derived.
  • They had to prop up the wall temporarily.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of propping up with shores

Từ đồng nghĩa

• shoring
• shoring up