draw up

British  

verb

1. to come or cause to come to a halt

2. (tr)

   1. to prepare a draft of (a legal document)

   2. to formulate and write out in appropriate form

      to draw up a contract

3. (used reflexively) to straighten oneself

4. to form or arrange (a body of soldiers, etc) in order or formation

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draw up Idioms  

1. Compose or write out in a set form, as in The lawyer drew up the contract . [First half of 1600s]

2. Arrange in order or formation, put in position, as in The band-leader drew up his players , or The officer drew up the troops . [c. 1600]

3. Bring or come to a halt, as in The car drew up to the curb . [Early 1800s]

4. draw oneself up . Assume an erect posture to express dignity or indignation. For example, She drew herself up and protested . [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

Then he sidelined them in drawing up his Ukraine cease-fire plan.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It's already achieved a lot," said Mike Howe, one of the ecologists who helped draw up the new study.

From BBC

The platform aims to demonstrate initial operating capability within nine months for at least one major scientific challenge from a list of 20 priorities the Energy Department will draw up within 60 days.

From Barron's

Some Swiss companies drew up plans to relocate production to some of its bigger neighbors.

From The Wall Street Journal

Each tree can draw up to seven litres of water a day through its deep roots, drying out the soil and crippling agriculture.

From Barron's

Related Words

• formulate
• prepare
• write