Shore Up – Meaning and Examples
Imagine a wall or a building that is starting to fall down. Before it collapses, workers must put wooden supports against it. This action is called shoring up the structure. In English, when we say we shore up something, it means we are providing support or strength to prevent failure, collapse, or damage. This is a very useful verb for talking about finances, morale, or weak systems.
What Does “Shore Up” Mean?
The phrasal verb “shore up” means to support or strengthen something that is weak or likely to fail. It is used both literally (for buildings) and figuratively (for organizations, budgets, or confidence). Think of it like adding strong, visible protection to keep something stable.
When to Use It
You can use shore up in situations where an existing structure or system needs reinforcement.
- Finance: The government might shore up banks with extra money during a financial crisis.
- Confidence/Morale: A good speech from a leader can shore up the team’s confidence after a loss.
- Security: They had to shore up the defenses along the coast before the big storm arrived.
This phrase is generally neutral to formal and is used often in news and business discussions.
Example Sentences
- We need to shore up our savings account before making a major investment.
- The company hired consultants to shore up their weak marketing department.
- Her father’s constant encouragement helped to shore up her self-esteem.
- Extra security guards were brought in to shore up the border during the holiday.
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “The school staff seems really tired and unhappy lately.”
Jamie: “I agree. The principal needs to do something to shore up their morale soon.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not confuse “shore up” with “show up” (to arrive) or use it when simply talking about cleaning or tidying.
❌ Don’t: “I need to shore up my room before my mother visits.” (This is incorrect. Use “clean up” or “tidy up.”)
✅ Do: “The manager added more training to shore up the new employees’ skills.” (This means to strengthen or reinforce their abilities.)
Practice Tip
Think of a situation where you had to quickly strengthen or save a bad situation (e.g., a grade, a friendship, or a failing plan). Write one sentence about how you tried to shore up that situation.
Final Note
Shore up is a strong and powerful phrase to use when talking about protecting things from collapse. Practice using shore up in different contexts, and you will speak more professionally and accurately.
