prop sth up
— phrasal verb with prop uk/prɒp/us/prɑːp/verb [ T + adv/prep ] -pp-
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.
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?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical supports and supporting
- backbone
- bearing
- bolster
- bookend
- buoy
- burden
- buttress
- cantilever
- groan
- pile
- pillar
- rafter
- runner
- scaffold
- scaffolding
- shore
- shore sth up
- skid
- stem
- stilt
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Backing, supporting & defending