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.

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Example Sentences

The government has also been empowered to directly purchase fuel and petroleum products to shore up supplies.

From BBC

Apollo said that Nippon Sheet’s principal lenders would effectively swap a portion of their outstanding loans for equity to shore up its balance sheet.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even as its major military capabilities have been all but wiped out, it has shored up its defense through the agile use of cheap drones, mines and other devices.

From The Wall Street Journal

The trip, scheduled from Sunday to Wednesday, comes as Vietnam seeks to shore up its fuel reserves amid the global supply disruptions caused by the war.

From Barron's

Some suggested the strikes might shore up support for Iran’s leaders, at least in the short term.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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