add to (something)

add to (something)

1. To combine something with something else. The thing being added can be named between "add" and "to." Did I add too much salt to the recipe? A: "Really, the sauce is bland?" B: "Yeah, it tastes like you didn't add any herbs to it." Ugh, I hate when they add patchouli to a perfume because it ends up overpowering everything else!

2. To increase something in some way. The power outage simply added to our woes. The caterer called today? Great, I'm sure they're just going to add to our problems. The bad weather just added to the kids' restlessness.

See also: add, to

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

add (something) to something

to increase the intensity or amount of something by giving more (of something) to it. You added too much sugar to my coffee.

See also: add, to

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

add to

v.

To increase the amount or intensity of something: The increase in fuel prices will add to the cost of living in the city. After I broke my arm, I added to my misery by chipping a tooth.

See also: add, to

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.