# patch up

idiom

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

## Meaning

To repair by adding a patch.

## Examples

- I need to patch up these old jeans before I wear them.
- The roof leaked during the storm, so we had to patch up the holes with waterproof tape.
- After the long winter caused significant damage to the exterior walls, the homeowners worked diligently to patch up the cracks before the spring rains arrived.

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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.