# trump up

idiom

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

## Meaning

To create falsely, to fabricate (particularly applied to accusations, (legal) charges or evidence).

## Examples

- They tried to trump up charges against him.
- The corrupt official attempted to trump up evidence to ruin his political rival's reputation.
- Fearing the loss of his authority, the tyrant ordered his guards to trump up a series of treasonous accusations against the innocent scholar.

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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.