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Thread: "to buoy up the sinking ship"

  1. 12-Dec-2012, 15:43 #1
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    Odessa Dawn
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    Default "to buoy up the sinking ship"


    Sinking ship Synonyms, Sinking ship Antonyms | Thesaurus.com
    Buoy up Synonyms, Buoy up Antonyms | Thesaurus.com

    In the metaphorical sense "to buoy the sinking ship" means to sustain something from collapse, Am I right?
    Last edited by Odessa Dawn; 12-Dec-2012 at 16:10. Reason: Correction: Deleting "up"
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  2. 12-Dec-2012, 15:49 #2
    SoothingDave
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    Default Re: "to buoy up the sinking ship"

    Yes, or keep from sinking, to not mix metaphors. I wouldn't use "up" with buoy.
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  3. 12-Dec-2012, 18:49 #3
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    Default Re: "to buoy up the sinking ship"

    Quote Originally Posted by SoothingDave View Post
    Yes, or keep from sinking, to not mix metaphors. I wouldn't use "up" with buoy.
    "To buoy up" is a common enough phrasal verb in BrE.
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