support
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automated decision support
Software that aids decision-making, as via algorithms. Management thinks this new automated decision support will save us a lot of time, but I'm skeptical. OK, explain it all to me then. How exactly will automated decision support help my employees in their everyday work? To me, automated decision support just sounds like some bogus thing cooked up by analytics nerds.
be on life support
1. Literally, to be connected to machines that are keeping one alive, as by maintaining one's breathing or heart function. Aunt Edna has been on life support for months. The doctors don't think she'll regain the ability to breathe without a ventilator. The patient signed a do-not-resuscitate order, so he refuses to be on life support. I know, I thought the patient with the bacterial infection was showing signs of progress, but I guess things took a turn for the worst last night. She's on life support now.
2. By extension, to be struggling to stay in existence. Our department's been on life support ever since our funding got slashed last year. Don't get your hopes up—when the CEO says he'll revisit an idea next quarter, that means it's officially on life support. That company was life support for years, so I'm not surprised to hear they filed for bankruptcy.
count on (someone or something)
1. To use one's fingers to count. She can already count on her fingers, even though she's only two years old! I can count on one hand the number of times he's offered to help me. Yes, I am counting on my fingers because my brain is absolute mush after that three-hour meeting.
2. To put one's trust in someone or something (to do something). We're counting on you to handle this problem, Janet. I know I can count on this old truck to get me anywhere I need to go. Come on, now that we're in office, we have to get things done! The average person counts upon their elected officials to improve things in this world!
3. To depend or rely on someone or something (to do something). You can't be so quick to quit your job, now that you've got a family who's counting on you. A lot of people count on these welfare payments to get by each month. We're the only grocery store around here, so the whole town counts on us for their food.
4. To be able to reliably expect something (to happen or be the case). I wouldn't count on the senator continuing to support you after everything that's happened. We hadn't counted on the health inspector showing up so early. Don't bother rushing around because you can always count on Tammy to be late.
drum up
1. To work to gain or incite something, often interest or support. A noun or pronoun can be used between "drum" and "up." What else can we do to drum up more support for our campaign? I try to drum up enthusiasm for trigonometry, but my students are just not interested. But I'm a nobody, though. How exactly am I supposed to drum up interest in my novel?
2. To create or devise something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "drum" and "up." We need to drum up a story before Mom gets home and sees the vase we broke. They drummed up some elaborate story about the file being corrupted, but I know they just didn't finish the report on time. We need to drum up a really catchy slogan for this ad campaign.
emotional support animal
A pet officially certified by a doctor or mental health professional to travel with one in order to provide some manner of comfort or emotional support (typically relating to a mental health condition). Can I bring my emotional support animal with me on the plane? I'm sorry, ma'am, but a peacock is not an emotional support animal we can allow on the plane. I thought emotional support animals were kind of a joke until I got one of my own. Rover has helped to calm my anxiety immensely!
emotional support dog/cat/etc.
A pet officially certified by a doctor or mental health professional to travel with one in order to provide some manner of comfort or emotional support (typically relating to a mental health condition). The specific type of animal is named after "support" Can I bring my emotional support cat with me on the plane? I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can't allow an emotional support peacock on the plane. I thought emotional support dogs were kind of a joke until I got one of my own. Rover has helped to calm my anxiety immensely!
lend support to (something)
1. To add information or details to something, especially to make it seem more credible or probable. Do you have any evidence that lends support to your assertion? We cannot do anything that will lend support to our opponents' allegations about us.
2. To provide assistance or approval to something. The president is lending support to the governor's re-election campaign. Your department will have responsibility, but the sales team will lend support to the project if needed.
moral support
Emotional or psychological support that one provides in order to give someone a feeling of confidence, encouragement, approval, or security. My dad's coming with me for moral support while I go make my complaint to the commissioner. After a breakup, it's important to surround yourself with friends and family who can give you moral support while you're feeling down.
on life support
1. Literally, connected to machines that are keeping one alive, as by maintaining one's breathing or heart function. They said Aunt Edna won't ever be able breathe without a ventilator. How long do we keep her on life support? No, we can't put him on life support—he signed a do-not-resuscitate order.
2. By extension, struggling to remain viable or continue to exist. Our department's been on life support ever since our funding got slashed last year.
pillar of strength
A supportive or emotionally strong person. My aunt has been a pillar of strength for me, helping me through many difficult moments in my life.
pillar of support
A supportive or emotionally strong person. My aunt has been a pillar of support for me, helping me through many difficult moments in my life.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
be for someone or something
and be for doing somethingsupporting or in favor of someone or something. I'm for abandoning the scheme. Mary is running for office, and the whole family is for her.
See also: for
drum something up
to obtain something by attracting people's attention to one's need or cause. I shall try to drum up support for the party. You shall have to drum up new business by advertising. I need to do something to drum some business up.
pillar of strength
and pillar of supportsomeone or something that consistently provides moral, emotional, or financial support as does a pillar. My parents are my pillars of support. John looked to God as his pillar of strength.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
drum up
1. Bring about by persistent effort, as in I'm trying to drum up more customers, or We have to drum up support for this amendment. This expression alludes to making repeated drumbeats. [Mid-1800s]
2. Devise, invent, obtain, as in He hoped to drum up an alibi. [Mid-1800s]
moral support
Emotional or psychological backing, as opposed to material help. For example, There's not much I can do at the doctor's office, but I'll come with you to give you moral support . [Late 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
lend supˈport, ˈweight, ˈcredence, etc. to something
make something seem more likely to be true or genuine: This latest evidence lends support to her theory.(give somebody) ˌmoral supˈport
(give somebody) your friendship, encouragement, approval, etc. rather than financial or practical help: Will you stay and give me some moral support while I explain to him why I’m late? ♢ Your moral support alone isn’t enough. We need money to fund this cause.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
be for
v.
To be in favor of something or someone: I'm definitely not for cutting down the trees; we need the shade. Are you for these candidates, or against them?
See also: for
drum up
v.
1. To bring something about by continuous, persistent effort: The advertising firm drummed up new business for us. The manager tried to drum interest up in the computer training classes.
2. To obtain or resourcefully put together something that one needs; come up with something: The witness drummed up an alibi during the trial. We drummed some volunteers up for the project.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
drum up
To gather, to summon. Alluding to summoning recruits by beating a drum, this term has been used figuratively since the 1600s. It is often used in a business sense, as it was by Thomas Gray in a letter of 1849: “I will then drum up subscribers for Fendler.” An antonym is to drum out, meaning to dismiss or oust. In the military this, too, was signaled by beating a drum. This came to mean being fired from a job but is not heard as often today.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer