gearing

gear to (someone or something)

1. To be suited to or have a focus on a particular audience or objective. The company has made it clear that their newest product is geared to tech-savvy professionals with disposable income to burn. The films are supposedly geared to kids, but they are full of really dark and scary imagery. A: "I know Ulysses isn't geared to the folks in a general college English class, but I want to have some Joyce on my syllabus." B: "Hmm, what a short story like Araby?"

2. To design something with a focus on a particular audience or objective. A noun or pronoun can be used between "gear" and "to." Make sure you gear this class to beginners. I'm going to gear my new sci-fi show more to female viewers. I use a planning system that is geared to helping me achieve all my goals for the year.

See also: gear, to

gear toward (someone or something)

1. To be suited to or have a focus on a particular audience or objective. The company has made it clear that their newest product is geared toward tech-savvy professionals with disposable income to burn. The films are supposedly geared toward kids, but they are full of really dark and scary imagery. A: "I know Ulysses isn't geared toward the folks in a general college English class, but I want to have some Joyce on my syllabus." B: "Hmm, what a short story like Araby?"

2. To design something with a focus on a particular audience or objective. A noun or pronoun can be used between "gear" and "toward." Please gear this class toward beginners, so that the average person can keep up with you. I'm going to gear my new sci-fi show more toward female viewers. This system of planning is geared toward helping me achieve my goals for the year.

See also: gear, toward

gear up

To ready oneself, someone, or something for something. I had geared myself up for a fight, so I was very surprised when the board immediately accepted my proposal. The benefits reps are gearing up for the health insurance enrollment period. Who is gearing up the invitations for the party?

See also: gear, up

gear up for (someone or something)

To ready someone, oneself, or something for something. I had geared up for a fight, so I was very surprised when the board immediately accepted my proposal. The benefits reps are gearing up for the health insurance enrollment period. I'm gearing up for my grandkids—they're arriving tonight.

See also: for, gear, up

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

gear someone or something up (for someone or something)

to prepare someone or something for someone or something. We have to gear up the workers for the arrival of the new manager. We geared ourselves up for Frank, who was coming to lecture to us.

See also: gear, up

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

gear up

v.

1. To get ready for something, especially an upcoming action or event; prepare for something: The investors geared up for the merger of the two companies.

2. To get something ready for an upcoming action or event: The company is gearing up its marketing team for the release of the new film. We geared the truck up for the journey.

See also: gear, 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.