draw up

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

Idioms and Phrases

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

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]

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

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

Example Sentences

Long, who had no playing career to speak of, nevertheless drew up plays that he insisted LSU’s coaches run.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Streeting said the government was "drawing up a potential list" of candidates to chair the review in Leeds.

Read more on BBC

The CQC used its own inspection reports and published data to draw up its annual analysis.

Read more on BBC

Takaichi said immediately after becoming Japan's first woman prime minister on Tuesday that tackling inflation was a priority and instructed her cabinet draw up new measures.

Read more on Barron's

If EU leaders green-light the reparations at Thursday's summit, the European Commission will begin drawing up the formal legal proposal for the loan.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• formulate 
• prepare 
• write