save up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To accumulate money over time by setting it aside, typically for a specific future purpose or purchase. It implies a deliberate and often gradual process of reserving funds rather than spending them immediately.
Usage
- The core meaning is to collect and keep money for later use. It often suggests a goal, such as buying something expensive or creating a financial safety net.
- It is a separable phrasal verb (e.g., "save money up" or "save up money").
- Commonly used in informal and everyday contexts related to personal finance.
Examples
- Verb:
- I need to save up for a new car. (I need to accumulate money to buy a new car.)
- She saved up her allowance to buy a concert ticket. (She collected her allowance money over time for the ticket.)
- They are saving up to go on a dream vacation. (They are putting money aside for a future trip.)
Advanced Usage
- "to save up for a rainy day": To save money for future times of need or emergency.
- It's wise to save up for a rainy day.
- The process can be emphasized:
Variants and Related Words
- Save (verb): A broader term meaning to keep money or resources for future use, or to rescue. "Save up" is a more specific form of "save" focusing on the accumulation process.
- Savings (noun): The money that has been saved up.
- All her savings were in the bank.
- Saver (noun): A person who saves money.
Synonyms
- Put aside: To reserve something, especially money, for later.
- Set aside: Similar to "put aside"; to keep something for a particular purpose.
- Accumulate: To gather or build up a quantity of something over time.
- Squirrel away (idiomatic): To save money in a secretive or careful way.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Save on: To reduce expenditure or cost.
- You can save on electricity by turning off lights.
- Save for: To keep or reserve something for a particular person, time, or purpose. (Note: This can overlap with "save up for," but "save for" can be used more broadly, not just for money.)
- Please save that piece of cake for me.
Related Idioms
- Penny-pincher (noun): A person who is extremely careful with money and likes to save up.
- My grandfather was a real penny-pincher.
- To scrape together/save up every penny: To save money with great difficulty or effort.
- They scraped together every penny to buy their first home.
Verb
- accumulate money for future use
- He saves half his salary