bolstered up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bolstered up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that has been strengthened or supported, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The team's morale was bolstered up by the recent success of their project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

(One lament viewed the jazz scene as "tired show songs and aged musicians performing within sewer-like nightclubs or bolstered up within universities by grant crumbs. And pop is pop: a carbonated beverage with no nutritional value packaged for the masses").

The New York Times

The K-pop act's multi-dimensional nature has helped them create a dedicated fanbase of ELF, or Everlasting Friends, which has bolstered up Super Junior's career over the baker's dozen of years.

Forbes

There sitting beside the big blonde who no longer looked so very big, bolstered up by an army of pillows in that massive bed, I felt, hard as this is to articulate, that this was my time with Leigh.

Huffington Post

Another fan bolstered up those who had fallen, and pushed the sunburned man back.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A serious young friend of ours has decided to give his life in an attempt to bolster up our confidence.

The New Yorker

If you're nervous, it's tempting to bolster up some Dutch courage by piling up the drinks.

The Guardian

He also writes that "the consciousness of being in the right can bolster up morale, though this affects the civilian population more than the troops".

The New York Times - Magazine

Jack L. Warner, busiest of the Brothers, is genially inclined to bolster up the courage of those who are ready to throw in the towel.

The New Yorker

"We would not rule out a new form of nuclear test for bolstering up our nuclear deterrence," it said in March.

The Guardian

History teaching before 1994 was there to "bolster up Afrikaner nationalism, and black South Africans were merely the objects of history.

The Guardian

Weinberg & the other dupes on the McKesson & Robbins board might have been sued for negligence, but they avoided litigation by voluntarily bolstering up the company with a gift of $600,000, of which Weinberg provided around $75,000.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bolstered up" when you want to emphasize not just the act of strengthening, but also the lifting or elevating aspect that comes with it. This is especially suitable when discussing morale, confidence, or support in challenging circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "bolstered up" interchangeably with simpler synonyms like "strengthened" if you intend to convey the lifting or elevating aspect of support. "Bolstered up" implies a more active and intentional form of assistance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bolstered up" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of strengthening or supporting something, often with an implication of lifting or elevating it. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bolstered up" is a grammatically correct phrasal verb that means to strengthen or support something, often with the added nuance of lifting or elevating it. While considered usable by Ludwig AI, it's less common than similar phrases such as "reinforced" or "strengthened". Usage contexts include news, science and encyclopedias, and it's best employed when you specifically want to emphasize the lifting aspect of support. Be mindful of its specific nuance to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bolstered

Missing the 'up' particle makes it similar but less emphatic.

reinforced

Focuses on strengthening something that already exists.

strengthened

Emphasizes making something more robust or resilient.

supported

Highlights providing assistance or backing to something.

fortified

Suggests adding defensive measures to make something stronger.

propped up

Similar meaning to the root phrase but with a physical connotation.

buttressed

Implies providing external support, often in a structural sense.

built up

Focuses on gradual increase and fortification.

underpinned

Focuses on providing a foundational basis of support.

beefed up

An informal way of saying to strengthen or add to.

FAQs

How can I use "bolstered up" in a sentence?

You can use "bolstered up" to describe something that has been strengthened or supported, such as "The team's morale was bolstered up by the recent success of their project".

What's the difference between "bolstered up" and "bolstered"?

"Bolstered" means to support or strengthen, while "bolstered up" emphasizes not only the strengthening but also the lifting or elevating aspect of that support. The addition of "up" adds emphasis.

What can I say instead of "bolstered up"?

You can use alternatives like "reinforced", "strengthened", or "supported" depending on the specific context.

Is "bolstered up" formal or informal?

"Bolstered up" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but alternatives like "reinforced" might be preferred in highly formal or academic writing.