bank up

bank up

1. To save a particular resource or thing so as to have it in reserve. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bank" and "up." Are we allowed to bank up sick time at this company? We need to bank up sleep now because we won't be getting much once the baby's here. Uncle Ed is so stingy, I think he's banked up every dollar he's ever made.

2. To form something into a mound or pile supported by something else. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bank" and "up." Hey, bank those leaves up against the shed. What can we bank the wood pile up against? It won't stay in place if we leave it like this. Here, bank the sand up against this. It'll help as you try to build the next part of the sandcastle.

3. To form something into a mound or pile as a means of protection. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bank" and "up." We banked up some old bricks to hide from the invaders. If only I'd worked faster, I could have banked up sand before the assailant spotted me. We ran from my brother and banked up leaves to hide in.

See also: bank, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

bank something up

 (against something)

1. to heap or mound up something so that it presses against something. Walter banked the coals up against the side of the furnace. He banked up the coals against the side. Tim banked the coals up.

2. to heap or mound up something to guard against something. They had to build barriers to hide behind. They banked dirt and rubble up against the oncoming attackers. Who banked up this dirt against the flood? The river was rising, so we banked some dirt up.

See also: bank, up

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.