speak up

speak up 

1. Lit. to speak more loudly. They can't hear you in the back of the room. Please speak up. What? speak up, please. I'm hard of hearing.

2. Fig. to speak out something). If you think that this is wrong, you must speak up and say so. I'm too shy to speak up.

See also: speak, up

speak up (against someone or something)

to end one's silence and speak negatively and publicly about someone or something. She finally spoke up against her cruel boss. We all felt like we had to speak up and denounce this tyrant.

See also: speak, up

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speak up

to express your opinion He went there to speak up for human rights, and he was arrested for doing it. If you need help, you have to speak up or no one will know.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of speak up (to talk more loudly)

See also: speak, up