: While "bolster" can stand alone, adding "up" often emphasizes the act of propping something that might otherwise collapse or fail.
: It evolved into a verb in the mid-1500s, originally describing the act of women adding padding to their dresses or corsets to create a fuller shape. bolster up
The phrase is applied across various fields to describe the act of adding necessary substance or support: : While "bolster" can stand alone, adding "up"
: Unlike "cheer up," which implies a positive emotional boost, "bolster up" suggests providing necessary stability to a position or state that is currently weak or deteriorated. 3. Practical and Abstract Applications 2. Linguistic Definition
According to the Collins Dictionary , to "bolster up" means to something.
: By the late 16th century, the term expanded beyond physical padding to describe the reinforcement of abstract concepts like morale or arguments. 2. Linguistic Definition