buoy up
1. To physically support and elevate someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "buoy" and "up." My daughter needs floaties to buoy her up in the pool. Anyone who doesn't know how to swim needs a life vest to buoy them up in the water. These inflatable bags are used to buoy the boat up if its hull becomes compromised while at sea.
2. To emotionally support someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "buoy" and "up." I can always count on my friends to buoy me up during tough times. He really needs to expand his support system instead of relying so heavily on his wife to buoy him up. I knew she'd been going through some dark times, so I'm glad to hear she's been buoyed up by therapy.
3. To bolster or strengthen someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "buoy" and "up." They're counting on the popular young actor's endorsement to really buoy up their campaign. Nothing could buoy up this proposal—quite simply, it's a dud. An infusion of cash would definitely buoy up our work in the community.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
buoy someone or something up
to keep someone or something afloat. Use this cushion to buoy yourself up. The log buoyed up the swimmer until help came. The air trapped in the hull buoyed the boat up.
buoy someone up
Fig. to support, encourage, or sustain someone. The good news buoyed her up considerably. Her good humor buoyed up the entire party.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
buoy up
v.1. To keep something or someone aloft or afloat: Air currents helped buoy up the glider. The life jacket buoyed me up until I was rescued.
2. To keep something at a high level; support something: The advertising campaign buoyed up their sales through the summer. The athlete's endorsement buoyed the politician up.
3. To hearten or inspire someone or something: The cheering fans buoyed up the team's spirit. Your kind words have buoyed me up.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.