to buoy up
1
5.3
- phrasal verb
- /bɔɪ ʌp/
- Her encouraging words always buoy up my spirits when I'm feeling down.
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Watch on YouTubeBut looking for the world to buoy you up or accept you in a certain manner?
- But looking for the world to buoy you up or accept you in a certain manner?
- And I think a lot of times we try to look for relationships that buoy us up, relationships that confirm ideas of what we think we are.
Examples
-
At this, Mr. Albemarle peered over the edge of the wall, frightened and yet oddly buoyed up by this talk.
Fiction book (1997) -
I was very happy and light as air, buoyed up as I was in the arms of Father Millerton.
Fiction book (1997) -
But looking for the world to buoy you up or accept you in a certain manner?
-
And I think a lot of times we try to look for relationships that buoy us up, relationships that confirm ideas of what we think we are.
-
So maybe I'm being hyper critical because I have like, buoyed her up in my mind.
-
She left Mill Hall buoyed up by a faint stirring of hope.
Fiction book (2002) -
When he had arrived back from his little adventure, he was buoyed up at first by the satisfaction of having responded so quickly and efficiently; but later, the way the dead man's papers lay there on the table, the boring days that slowly went by, and the constant curiosity gradually got to him.
Fiction book (1998) -
The surprise party really buoyed up his mood after a tough week.
-
The supportive community buoys up its members during difficult times.
Synonyms
248
1.0
To make someone feel happier
236
1.4
To feel happier after being sad or to make someone feel happier
125
3.4
To make people or a situation feel more cheerful
111
4.1
To become or make someone feel more cheerful and relaxed
90
3.7
To help someone become better off or more confident
85
1.0
Cause someone to feel happy or amused
81
4.3
To give extra support to a person, plan, or idea
64
3.2
To make someone feel happier and more hopeful
53
4.1
Make someone feel excited and full of energy
31
3.1
Become more lively and cheerful after feeling tired or sad
25
6.3
To become or make someone more cheerful and confident
22
3.7
To make someone feel happier and more hopeful
22
2.7
Make a room or person more cheerful
19
3.9
To make or become more active and interesting
17
3.9
To make someone feel happier when they are sad
16
5.3
To keep someone or something floating and give them hope
15
7.0
Make someone feel happier and full of energy
14
5.5
Make someone feel happier or more confident
8
5.6
To make someone feel very excited about something
7
3.7
Make people feel more confident and positive
6
3.4
Help someone feel happier
4
5.5
To make someone feel excited about something
3
4.1
Make someone or something more lively and interesting
2
4.0
To make someone feel more sure of themselves
1
9.2
Give someone praise to make them feel more confident
1
4.2
To give help to someone or something to make them stronger
1
8.2
To try to make someone feel happier when they are sad
To make someone feel happier
To make someone feel happier or more cheerful
To make someone feel happier or more lively
Antonyms
How Encouraging
980
3.2
64
3.2
1
5.3
877
2.3
- Informal
236
1.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to keep afloat; to support' is directly derivable from combining 'buoy' (to keep afloat, uplift, or encourage) with the particle 'up' (indicating upward movement or strengthening), so the composite sense is compositional. This motion/causative + particle pattern is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Buoy up comes from the image of a buoy lifting and holding things on the water. So when people or words 'buoy up' someone, they lift their mood and make them feel more 'cheerful'.