prop sth up

— phrasal verb with prop

/prɒp/

/prɑːp/ verb [T + adv/prep] (-pp-)

Definition

› to lift and give support to something by putting something under it: He was sitting upright in his hospital bed, propped up by pillows. There were the usual bunch of drinkers propped up at (= leaning against) the bar.Physical supports and supportingArches, columns and beams › to give support to something, especially a country or organization, so that it can continue to exist in a difficult situation: How long is the government likely to survive without the US military force there to prop it up?Backing, supporting and defendingDefending and protecting

(Definition of prop sth up from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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