Add Up – Meaning and Examples

When you look at your monthly bills, you add up the costs. But sometimes, a story someone tells you doesn’t add up. This common idiom has two meanings. It can mean to calculate a total. It can also mean that facts or information seem logical and consistent. Learning add up will help you talk about math and suspicious situations.

What Does “Add Up” Mean?

“Add up” first means to find the total of several numbers. Its second meaning is more figurative: when details of a situation seem to make sense and be true.

Think of it like this: You add up your grocery bill to see how much you spent. Or, if a friend’s excuse for being late seems strange, you might say, “Your story doesn’t add up.”

Remember, the second meaning is about things being logical, not about mathematics.

When to Use It

You can use this idiom in both mathematical and everyday situations.

• Calculating: “Can you add up these numbers for me?”
• Checking Logic: “His explanation for where he was just doesn’t add up.”
• Making Sense: “When I add up all the clues, I think I know what happened.”

The tone is neutral and practical. It works in both informal and formal conversations.

Example Sentences

• Please add up the scores and tell me who won.
• She gave me three different reasons for being late, and they just don’t add up.
• The time it takes to drive there doesn’t add up with his story.
• If you add up all the small expenses, you’ll see where your money is going.

Mini Dialogue

Manager: “The expenses for this project seem very high. Can you add them up again?”

Employee: “I already did. The numbers add up correctly.”

Manager: “Hmm, something still doesn’t add up. Let’s check the receipts.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The main mistake is using the wrong preposition. We say the story “doesn’t add up,” not “doesn’t add up to.” The “to” is only used with the mathematical meaning when stating the total.

❌ Don’t say: “His alibi doesn’t add up to.”

✅ Do say: “His alibi doesn’t add up.” OR “The bill adds up to fifty dollars.”

Final Note

This is a very useful idiom for both simple math and critical thinking. It helps you express when something is logical or when you are suspicious. You will find it very practical in daily life!