# buoy up

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/buoy-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To uplift, hearten, inspire, or raise the spirits of.

## Examples

- Your kind words really buoy up my spirits.
- The team needed a win to buoy up their confidence after a long string of losses.
- The unexpected arrival of his old mentor served to buoy up his resolve during the most difficult phase of the research project.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.