From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpile something ↔ on phrasal verb informal1 pile it on/pile on the dramaEXAGGERATE to talk about something in a way that makes it seem much worse than it really is SYN exaggerate I know I’m piling it on a bit, but there is a serious point to be made.2 pile on the pressure/agony to show that you are much better than your opponent in a game England piled on the pressure from the start.3 pile on the pounds to gain a lot of body weight She slimmed down a couple of years ago but has piled on the pounds again. → pile→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
pile on• It has to do with how that snow pile melts.• Opposite her, piled up on a chair, was a great mound of presents.• Woodmill piled the pressure on and were finally rewarded with a Martin Shores goal with only thirty seconds left.• There were four of us piling in on it.• Maybe in the bleak light of dawn Kathy arranged a pile of twigs on the beach.• She pointed to a pile of books on the bottom shelf of the bookcase.• Placing a pile of coins on the box in front of her, she slowly dialled the number.• Instead, he piled loss on top of loss.pile on the pressure/agony• Then we really pile on the pressure.• It piled on the agony for Glasgow, who had passed up another chance two minutes before the break.• He had four chances of piling on the agony for the Londoners but could not find a way past keeper Bob Bolder.• Move round him, piling on the pressure from different directions.• Pressure Gornei piled on the pressure from the start and by the end of the contest Griffin's face was badly swollen.• And Walsh piled on the pressure to get promises of advertising business.• They piled on the pressure to win handsomely by 30 shots.• Woosnam piled on the agony with four successive birdies.pile on the pounds• Most comfort eaters enjoy it while they're eating, but the downside is they soon start to pile on the pounds.• To his relief the producers didn't want him to pile on the pounds.• She did slim down a couple of years ago but has piled on the pounds again. 