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build (up)on something
1. to construct something on a particular space. (Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) Are you going to build upon this land? Yes, we will build on it. 2. to start with something and add to it. (Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) Our progress has been good so far. Let's build on it. We will build upon the success of our forebears. See also: build build something (up)on something 1. Lit. to construct something on the base of something else. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) The ancients built their houses upon the houses of earlier people. 2. Fig. to add to and develop something that already exists. We have a good reputation and we must build on it. He has to build on his strong friendships with the customers. See also: build build something on(to) something and build something on to construct an extension onto a building. We are going to build a garage onto this side of the house. We will build on a new garage. The people next door are not going to build anything on. See also: build build on(to) something and build on to add to something by constructing an extension. Do you plan to build onto this house? Yes, we are going to build on. See also: build Cast one's bread upon the waters. Prov. Act generous because you feel it is right and not because you expect a reward. (Biblical.) Joseph is casting his bread upon the waters, supporting Bob while he works on his novel Cast your bread upon the waters; make a generous contribution to our cause. draw on someone or something and draw upon someone or something to use someone or something in some beneficial way; to extract from a resource, reserve, etc. I may have to draw on your advice in order to complete this project. If there is some way you can draw on me to your advantage, let me know. By the end of the contest I had drawn upon all the energy I had. See also: draw hinge (up)on someone or something Fig. to depend on someone or something; to depend on what someone or something does. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than cm.) The success of the project hinges upon you and how well you do your job. How well the corn crop does all hinges on the weather. hit (up)on someone or something 1. Lit. to strike or pound on someone or something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) Jeff hit upon the mugger over and over. I hit on the radio until it started working again. 2. Fig. to discover someone or something. I think I have hit upon something. There is a lever you have to press in order to open this cabinet. I hit on Tom in an amateur play production. I offered him a job in my nightclub immediately. 3. Go to hit on someone; hit on something. See also: hit hit someone (or an animal) on something to strike someone or an animal in a particular place. The stone hit me on the leg. I hit the beaver on its side and it didn't seem to feel it. She hit herself on her left cheek. See also: hit hit on someone Inf. to flirt with someone; to make a pass at someone. The women were all hitting on George, but he didn't complain. I thought he was going to hit on me—but he didn't. See also: hit hit on something to discover something. She hit on a new scheme for removing the impurities from drinking water. I hit on it when I wasn't able to sleep one night. See also: hit make it one's business to (do something) and take it upon oneself to do something Fig. to do something on one's own even if it means interfering in something that does not directly concern one. (As opposed to minding one's own business.) I know it doesn't concern me, but I made it my business to call city hall because someone had to. Jane took it upon herself to find out exactly what had happened to the old lady. once upon a time Cliché once in the past. (A formula used to begin a fairy tale.) Once upon a time, there were three bears. Once upon a time, I had a puppy of my own. play (up)on something 1. Lit. to make music on a musical instrument. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) Can you play upon this instrument, or only the one you are holding? I can't play on this! It's broken. 2. Lit. to play a game on a field or court. Shall we play on the floor or on the table? Let's play on the field. It's dry enough now. 3. Fig. to exploit something—including a word—for some purpose; to develop something for some purpose. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) You are just playing on words! You are playing on a misunderstanding. 4. Fig. [for light] to sparkle on something. The reflections of the candles played on the surface of the wall. The lights played on the crystal goblets. See also: play play something on someone or something to aim a light or a hose on someone or something. The fireman played water on the burning building. The stagehand played a spotlight on the singer. See also: play play on to continue to play. The band played on and the dance continued until the wee hours of the morning. We played on and on until the last guests left the party. See also: play play on something to have an effect on something; to manage something for a desired effect. (The on can be replaced by upon.) The clerk played on my sense of responsibility in trying to get me to buy the book. See if you can get her to confess by playing on her sense of guilt. See also: play prevail (up)on someone or something (to do something) to appeal to someone or a group to do something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) I will prevail upon her to attend the meeting. I prevailed on the committee to no avail. See also: prevail prey (up)on someone or something Fig. to take advantage of someone or something. (See also prey on something. Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) The people of that island prey on tourists and do not give them good treatment. I really don't want to seem to prey upon your kindness. See also: prey prey on something [for an animal] to feed on another animal as a matter of habit or preference. Owls prey on mice. Many birds prey on snakes. See also: prey project something on (to) someone or something and project something upon someone or something to show a picture, such as from a film, transparency, etc., onto something, such as a screen, wall, etc., or even onto a person. Henry projected the pictures onto the screen as he discussed each one. The teacher had to project the slides upon the wall. See also: project put upon by someone to be made use of to an unreasonable degree. (*Typically passive.) My mother was always put upon by her neighbors. She was too nice to refuse their requests for help. Jane feels put upon by her live-in mother-in-law. See also: put reflect (back) (up)on someone or something to remember or think about someone or something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) When I reflect back on the years I spent with my parents, I think I had a good childhood. I like to reflect on my great-grandmother. See also: reflect set upon someone or something to attack someone or something violently. The dogs set upon the bear and chased it up a tree. Bill set upon Tom and struck him hard in the face. See also: set settle on something to decide on something. We've discussed the merits of all of them, and we've settled on this one. I can't settle on one or the other, so I'll buy both. See also: settle trade on something to use a fact or a situation to one's advantage. Tom was able to trade on the fact that he had once been in the army. John traded on his poor eyesight to get a seat closer to the stage. See also: trade upon impact Fig. at the place or time of an impact. The car crumpled upon impact with the brick wall. The man who fell from the top of the building died on impact. See also: impact once upon a time (literary) 1. a long time ago Usage notes: This phrase is often used as a way of beginning children's stories. Once upon a time there lived a young girl called Cinderella. 2. if you say that something happened once upon a time, you mean that it happened in the past and you wish that it still happened now Once upon a time, everyone knew each other in this town and nobody bothered locking their doors. throw yourself on/upon somebody's mercy to ask someone to help you or to forgive you when you are in a difficult situation If all else fails, I might throw myself on Sandra's mercy and see if she'll drive me there. build on something also build upon something to add another thing to something that already exists In his new book he builds on his own discoveries, and he builds on current theory. The president is building upon the extraordinary commitment to volunteerism Americans have. See also: build come upon somebody/something to find or meet someone or something, esp. unexpectedly We came upon a farmer setting a fire to clear off dead grass from the pasture. See also: come draw on something to get ideas or facts from something The second half of the book draws on new discoveries in the field of microbiology. See also: draw foist something on somebody also foist something upon somebody to force someone to accept or experience something We even foist junk food on children in school cafeterias. Usage notes: sometimes in the form foist something off on someone: You cannot foist this ridiculous plan off on the public. See also: foist hinge on something also hinge upon something to depend on something The case hinged on whether the jury believed the accused thief or the two witnesses. Etymology: based on the idea that a door is attached to its frame by a hinge (folding device) hit on somebody (slang) to clearly show that you are sexually attracted to someone Pete doesn't even realize half the time when girls are hitting on him. Related vocabulary: come on to somebodySee also: hit hit on something also hit upon something 1. to discover or think of something new Adams and her record producer hit on a jazzy, sophisticated style. 2. to mention something briefly I just called to make sure that we hit on everything you need when we met yesterday. See also: hit look upon somebody/something as something also look on somebody/something as something to consider someone or something in a particular way Although she was actually not related to us, we all looked upon her as an aunt. I look upon education as an investment in the future. Usage notes: often used in the form looked upon as: He was looked upon as an upper-class snob. See also: look make it your business to do something to decide you will take responsibility to do something He made it his business to find out what happened to the money. once upon a time long ago I had worked for some big companies once upon a time, but later I was self-employed. Usage notes: often used to begin a children's story: Once upon a time, in a far-off kingdom, there lived a beautiful princess. play on something also play upon something to use something for your own advantage The news reports just seemed to play on people's emotions. See also: play prevail on somebody (to do something) also prevail upon somebody (to do something) to persuade someone to do something My father prevailed on some friends to let us stay with them for a few days. The TV network prevailed upon the organizers of the track and field championships to schedule the 100-meter final for Sunday afternoon. See also: prevail prey on somebody also prey upon somebody 1. to commit a crime against someone Police are looking for street criminals who prey on tourists. Gangs that prey upon small business owners in the city's Chinatown may be spreading to the suburbs. 2. to have an effect on someone Guilt preyed on him for years after the accident. Usage notes: sometimes said about something that has an effect on people's emotions: The ads prey on our fear of being alone. See also: prey prey on something also prey upon something to kill an animal in order to eat it Spiders prey on small flies and other insects. Seals often prey upon the same fish people are trying to catch. Usage notes: said about animals that kill other animals for food See also: prey reflect on somebody/something to influence the reputation of a person, group, or organization The outstanding work of our scientists reflects well on the entire university. If someone on our staff does a bad job, it reflects badly on all of us. Usage notes: always used with an adverb and said of both good and bad influences on a reputation See also: reflect reflect on something also reflect upon something to think seriously about something Her essay invites the reader to reflect on the importance of art in people's lives. See also: reflect set upon somebody/something to attack someone or something I saw an old man set upon by muggers in an alley. Demonstrators wearing ski masks set upon a stopped police car. See also: set settle on something also settle upon something to make a decision or come to an agreement about something My parents finally settled on my punishment - I would use my summer wages to pay for the repairs. The two sides have not yet settled on a price. See also: settle take it upon yourself/itself to do something also take something upon yourself/itself to accept a responsibility without being asked to He took it upon himself to personally thank each person who came to the memorial service. The Transit Authority has taken it upon itself to be the spokesman for its riders. Is there a reason why some countries should take upon themselves the role of international policeman? See also: take trade on something also trade upon something to use something for your own advantage The mayoral candidate ran the kind of campaign that trades on most people's fear of crime. George traded upon his family's powerful connections. See also: trade How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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