stack up

1. Measure up, equal, as in Their gift doesn't stack up against mine . This usage alludes to piling up one's chips at poker, and comparing them to those of the other players. [Early 1900s]

2. Make sense, seem plausible, as in Her explanation just doesn't stack up . Also see add up , def. 2.

Example Sentences

The model was then tested to see if its predictions stacked up using data from other Biobank participants, and then with 1.9 million people's medical records in Denmark.

From BBC

A staggering sum, yes, but also a familiar pattern: a real, systemic problem quietly stacking up, while local news cycles fixate on the heroic interventions that never actually solve it.

From Salon

It looks quite likely Phillipson will stack up a very big number of supporters, further squeezing the remaining votes to be fought over.

From BBC

So it’d be like two weeks of them, I could make a stool and make a table with a full week’s worth stacked up.

From Los Angeles Times

It feels like they're on the decline after a great run, with ageing stars and injuries that are already stacking up.

From BBC

Related Words

• accelerate 
• advance 
• ascend 
• build 
• climb 
• double 
• expand 
• go up 
• improve 
• lift 
• move up 
• multiply 
• pick up 
• raise 
• soar 
• swell