shore up

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The phrase "shore up" is a verb that means to support or strengthen something, usually by adding extra support or stability. Imagine you have a wobbly table; you might put something under one of its legs to make it more stable. That's similar to "shoring up" something.

Usage Instructions:

• When to Use: You can use "shore up" when talking about physically supporting something or when you want to describe helping or improving a situation or system.
• How to Use: It’s often followed by a noun (the thing being supported).

Example:

• Physical Support: "The workers had to shore up the old building to prevent it from collapsing."
• Figurative Support: "The government is trying to shore up the economy with new policies."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, "shore up" can refer to supporting abstract concepts like relationships, economies, or businesses. For example: - "The company is taking measures to shore up its financial stability after recent losses."

Word Variants:

• Noun Form: "Shoring up" can be used as a gerund or present participle, as in "The shoring up of the building was necessary."
• Adjective: "Shored up" can describe something that has been supported, like "the shored-up structure."

Different Meanings:

While "shore up" primarily means to support, it can also imply improving or reinforcing something that is weak or unstable, whether physically or metaphorically.

Synonyms:

• Support
• Strengthen
• Bolster
• Buttress
• Reinforce

Idioms and Phrasal Verb:

"Shore up" can be considered a phrasal verb, as it combines the verb "shore" with the preposition "up." There are no direct idioms that include this phrase, but it is often used in contexts involving support or stability.

Summary:

"Shore up" is a versatile term that you can use both in a physical sense (like buildings) and in a metaphorical sense (like economies or relationships).

Academic

Verb

1. support by placing against something solid or rigid
   • shore and buttress an old building

Synonyms

• prop up
• prop
• shore