to clap up
- phrasal verb
- UK
:
preparar
- They managed to clap up a shelter with whatever materials were lying around.
Examples
-
She clapped up a quick report for the meeting.
-
The committee clapped up a set of rules without much thought.
-
He clapped up an excuse for being late, but no one believed him.
-
Don't clap up that project without proper planning!
-
They quickly clapped up decorations for the party using leftover supplies.
-
After a short discussion, the team clapped up a presentation just before the deadline.
-
He clapped up a makeshift tent from old sheets to stay dry during the rain.
Synonyms
22
3.5
Make something quickly without much care or planning
3
6.0
Make something quickly without caring about details
1
6.7
To make something quickly and simply from things you have, like a shelter or meal
1
4.9
Make something quickly that will not last long
Make something quickly and carelessly using what you have
To make something quickly and without care using what you have
To make something quickly and roughly using what is available
Antonyms
How Carefully
Surface Forms
Morphology
clap + up
The sense 'to make or put together hastily and carelessly' can be linked to the literal idea of 'clap' as a quick, forceful action and the particle 'up' marking completion, so there is a visible compositional basis. However, the specific meaning of assembling or producing something hastily is a metaphorical extension and not a standard, predictable phrasal-verb sense (and 'clap' is more often known as 'applaud'), so a B1 learner who only knows the constituents would only partially infer the meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
Clap up may come from the image of quickly bringing things together with a clap, like hitting boards so they join with a sharp sound. That's why it means 'to put together hastily and carelessly'.