to rig up
- phrasal verb
- Informal
- He was able to rig up a makeshift lighting system for the photo shoot.
- rigged up a system
- rigged up the camera
- rigged up some lights
We bring the trust down to us, we rig it up and then we send it back up.
- We bring the trust down to us, we rig it up and then we send it back up.
- You can connect your bike to like this sort of set up that allows you to, you know, rig it up indoors.
- So Magnum rigged this whole cell up with tubes and bottles and it looked like there was nothing in there.
- Let's somehow rig up a grinder on this thing and then see how much of A laceration machine I have produced.
- Everybody's like rigging up getting all their stuff, but hey, cook, hey man, glad you're back.
- And then, you know, they pin and rig up stuff so that, you know, they can get the full effect and you should have a few sizes like that.
Examples
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We need to rig up a quick shelter before the storm hits.
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Well, if we're here for a while I'll rig something up for cooking.
-
OK, so I need to rig something up to to get more charge into it.
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We bring the trust down to us, we rig it up and then we send it back up.
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"Now if you want, I can rig it up so you can turn it off and on when you want.
Fiction book (1998) -
"We'll rig up a net," I say.
Fiction book (1991) -
I bet we can rig up a set of drums just for you.
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We can rig up some wheels to it.
Fiction book (2001) -
You're going to have to rig up some sort of kill switch for the generator.
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You reckon we could rig up a towline and pull them along the bank?
Fiction book (2001)
Synonyms
To assemble and prepare equipment or objects so they are ready to use
To set up equipment on a ship or machine so it is ready to use
To put things together quickly and roughly using what is available
Make something quickly and roughly from things you have
To build the basic wooden structure of a building like a house
To make something quickly and roughly using what is available
To get a small amount of something quickly with little money or time
Add the equipment a place or thing needs to make it ready
Antonyms
How Temporary
- Informal
- Informal
- Informal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'rig' already means to equip or assemble and the particle 'up' conveys a resultative/completive sense, so the combination yields the straightforward meaning 'assemble/put together.' A B1 learner who knows both constituents can therefore deduce the core sense; the extra nuance of quickness or makeshift quality is pragmatic but does not block comprehension.
Etymology
Rig up may come from old sailors who would rig the ropes and sails quickly on a ship. That's why today rig up means 'to put something together quickly', often as a temporary solution.