prop up — support artificially (especially financially or structurally, often to prevent failure)
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
To give support to something (such as a business, economy, or person) so that it does not fail, especially when it would not survive on its own.
Say it like a native
Textbook The government continued to provide artificial financial support to the failing bank.
Native The government kept propping up the failing bank.
'Provide artificial financial support' is wordy; 'prop up' carries the 'wouldn't survive alone' sense in two words.
Pattern: prop up + noun
In use
- The government had to prop up several banks during the financial crisis to prevent them from collapsing.work
- In my opinion, it's not sustainable for governments to continually prop up failing industries, as it can prevent necessary changes and innovation.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ The loan propped the company.
✓ The loan propped up the company.
It needs 'up' — 'prop up'.
Common collocations
prop up— prop up, prop up the economy, artificially, shore up
Don't confuse it
Unlike the basic, physical sense of 'prop up' (e.g., propping up a door with a stick), this sense is figurative and refers to supporting something (like a company, economy, or person) that is struggling.