add up — make sense
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
If something 'adds up', it means it makes sense or seems reasonable.
Say it like a native
Textbook His explanation does not appear logically consistent.
Native His story doesn't add up.
'Doesn't add up' is the natural way to flag something illogical or suspicious; the formal version is stiff.
Pattern: add up (no object)
In use
- Her explanation just didn’t add up.communication
- When I looked at the evidence, it didn’t add up, so I started to doubt the results.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Her story doesn't add up with the facts.
✓ Her story doesn't add up. / Her story doesn't fit the facts.
'Add up' works alone here — don't tack 'with' on it.
Common collocations
(not) add up— doesn't, something, it all, just
Don't confuse it
Not about numbers or math—this sense is about logic or believability.
Related
- add up (calculate the total) — Another meaning of 'add up' is 'calculate the total'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.