Bolster sth up Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Bolster sth up” Mean?

“Bolster sth up” means to support, strengthen, or improve something, especially something weak or unstable.

Introduction

The phrase “Bolster sth up” is commonly used in English to describe the act of providing extra support or reinforcement to something. Whether it’s a physical object, an argument, or even confidence, to bolster something up means to make it stronger or more secure. Understanding the bolster sth up meaning can help you express ideas about improving or strengthening various things in your daily conversations or writing. This phrasal verb is useful in many contexts, from business to personal life, making it an important phrase to learn.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Bolster something up
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To support or strengthen something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Bolster sth up” is a separable phrasal verb, meaning you can place the object between “bolster” and “up” or after the entire phrase.

• bolster + object + up (e.g., bolster confidence up)
• bolster up + object (e.g., bolster up the wall)

Both forms are correct, but placing the object between the verb and the particle is more common.

How to Use “Bolster sth up”?

You can use “bolster sth up” when you want to describe making something stronger or more effective. This could be:

• Physically supporting an object (e.g., bolstering up a weak structure)
• Improving confidence or morale (e.g., bolstering up someone’s courage)
• Strengthening arguments or ideas (e.g., bolstering up your case with facts)

It is often used in formal and informal contexts to emphasize improvement or reinforcement.

Examples

• They bolstered up the old bridge to prevent it from collapsing.
• She bolstered up her resume with additional volunteer experience.
• The manager bolstered up the team’s confidence before the big game.
• To win the debate, he bolstered up his argument with strong evidence.
• The company bolstered up its security measures after the cyber attack.

These examples show how “bolster sth up” can be used in different situations.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect: She bolstered up very confidence.
  Correct: She bolstered up her confidence.
• Incorrect: They bolstered the up the wall.
  Correct: They bolstered up the wall.
• Incorrect: Bolster up is used without an object.
  Correct: You must bolster up your argument.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrasal verbs include strengthen, shore up, and reinforce. However, “bolster sth up” often implies adding extra support to something already existing.

• Shore up: Usually refers to physical or financial support to prevent failure.
• Reinforce: Emphasizes making something stronger, especially structures or ideas.
• Strengthen: A more general term for making something stronger.

For example, you can shore up a failing business, reinforce a wall, or bolster up your argument. Each has slightly different uses but overlaps in meaning.

Common Collocations

• Bolster up confidence
• Bolster up support
• Bolster up security
• Bolster up morale
• Bolster up arguments
• Bolster up defenses

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of bolster sth up:

• Bolster Sb Up

Real-life Dialogue

Anna: The team seems nervous before the presentation.

Mark: Yes, but the coach bolstered up their confidence this morning.

Anna: That’s good. They need all the support they can get.

Mark: Absolutely. It really helped bolster up their morale.

Practice

Fill in the blank with the correct form of “bolster sth up”:

• The government decided to _______ the economy by investing in new projects.
• She tried to _______ her argument with more facts.
• They _______ the old fence to keep it from falling.

FAQs

• Q: Can “bolster sth up” be used in informal speech?
  A: Yes, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• Q: Is “bolster up” separable?
  A: Yes, you can separate the object from the phrasal verb or keep it together.
• Q: Can I use “bolster sth up” without an object?
  A: No, it requires an object to make sense.
• Q: What is the difference between “bolster” and “bolster up”?
  A: Both mean the same; “bolster up” adds a slight emphasis on reinforcement.
• Q: Is “bolster sth up” commonly used in business English?
  A: Yes, it is often used to describe strengthening strategies or confidence in business.