bear up

bear someone or something up

to hold someone or something up; to support someone or something. Will this bench bear me up? This bench is so sturdy it would bear up an elephant.

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bear someone up*

to sustain or encourage someone. Your encouragement bore me up through a very hard time. I will bear up the widow through the funeral service as well as I can.

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bear up (under something)

1. Lit. to hold up under something; to sustain the weight of something. How is the new beam bearing up under the weight of the floor? It isn't bearing up. It broke.

2. Fig. [for someone] to remain brave under a mental or emotional burden. Jill did not bear up well under problems with her family. Jill bore up quite well amid serious difficulties.

See also: bear, up

bear up (under something)  

1. Lit. to hold up under something; to sustain the weight of something. How is the new beam bearing up under the weight of the floor? It isn't bearing up. It broke.

2. Fig. [for someone] to remain brave under a mental or emotional burden. Jill did not bear up well under problems with her family. Jill bore up quite well amid serious difficulties.

See also: bear, up

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bear up

to be brave I wonder where she finds the strength to bear up under so much unfair criticism.

See also: bear, up