shore up

Idioms  

1. Support, prop, as in The new law was designed to shore up banks in danger of failure. This expression derives from the noun shore, meaning “prop,” a beam or timber propped against a structure to provide support. The verb shore dates from 1340 and was first recorded in a figurative context in 1581.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shore up

One of them: to shore up consumption, which has stagnated in recent years, by opening up retail across the whole week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

For one — and “most critical historically,” according to Deutsche Bank — the U.S. benefited from 200 years of institutional and political stability that helped shore up confidence in its capital markets, aiding economic growth.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 28, 2026

The Guardian follows with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood seeking to shore up support for her immigration bill that plans to speed up the opening of safe and legal routes for refugees.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

When those crowds vacate the premises, there will be nothing left to shore up prices.

From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026

"Maybe we could shore up the MAV. Make tipping less likely."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• add to
• bolster
• boost
• build up
• buttress
• emphasize
• enlarge
• fortify
• increase
• stress
• support
• underline