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Glite Dictionary
to jack up the car

to jack up the car

1 3.9
To lift a car off the ground with a jack to fix or change a part
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : elevar el coche
  • I remember exactIy where I was, the very spot, I just jacked up the car and I was singing this song, Iike I aIways did when I was doing a break job.

Examples

  • - Hey, I jacked up the car.

    Clerks (1994)

  • In the pouring rain, wearing their best suit... they jack up the car, remove the flat... getting dirtier until, after a grueling struggle... they finally put the spare on.

    Death and the Maiden (1994)

  • Before changing the tire, make sure to jack up the car to access the wheel.

  • It's important to securely jack up the car to prevent it from falling while you work underneath.

  • He forgot to jack up the car before trying to remove the flat tire.

Synonyms

to lift
vsto jack up the car
553 1.0

To raise something higher by hand or with a machine

is narrower, referring to using a mechanical device to raise a vehicle
to lift up
vsto jack up the car
107 1.1

To raise someone or something to a higher place

is specific to elevating a vehicle off the ground for maintenance
to jack
vsto jack up the car
32 5.2

To raise a car or other vehicle with a lifting tool

is a common phrasal use specifically for elevating vehicles for repairs
to boost
vsto jack up the car
21 2.5

To push someone up from below so they reach a higher place

focuses on using a mechanical tool to lift a vehicle off the ground
to push up
vsto jack up the car
11 2.1

Move something to a higher place by pushing from below or behind

describes lifting with a device rather than pushing from below
to raise up
vsto jack up the car
7 2.1

To lift something or someone to a higher place

refers specifically to raising a vehicle with a mechanical tool for work
to jack up
vsto jack up the car
4 4.3

To lift a car or truck off the ground with a small lifting tool

is the same action but usually used for elevating a vehicle

How High

to crane
1 3.7
to hoist
79 4.7
to jack up the car
1 3.9

Surface Forms

jack up the car infinitive
jacked up the car past
jacked up the car past participle
jacking up the car present participle
jacks up the car third person singular

Morphology

jack + up + the + car

The meaning is directly and literally derived from the constituents: 'jack' (to lift/raise with a jack) + 'up' (to a higher position) + 'car' (vehicle) yields the action of raising a car with a jack. This verb+particle + noun composition is a transparent, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Jack up the car comes from the small tool called a jack that you put under a car and turn to push it up and lift the wheels off the ground. So the phrase means 'to lift the car off the ground', usually to repair it or change a tire.