# pump someone's tires

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pump-someones-tires
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To praise, encourage, or vigorously support someone.

## Examples

- He always pumps his friend's tires before a big game.
- The manager spent the whole meeting pumping his team's tires to keep their morale high during the difficult project.
- Rather than offering constructive criticism, the mentor spent the entire session pumping the student's tires, leaving the underlying flaws of the manuscript unaddressed.

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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.