From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishprop something ↔ up phrasal verb1 SUPPORT/HOLD UPto prevent something from falling by putting something against it or under it The builders are trying to prop up the crumbling walls of the church. against paintings propped up against the wall2 HELPto help an economy, industry, or government so that it can continue to exist, especially by giving money The government introduced measures to prop up the stock market.3 prop yourself upSUPPORT/HOLD UP to hold your body up by leaning against somethingprop yourself up on/against/with She propped herself up on one elbow. → prop→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
prop up• We will secretly prop it up.• Hicks propped him up against the bathroom door and let him talk.• Just as they propped David up against the side of the display counter, the manager strode self-importantly along the aisle.• He propped Freddie up against the wall, and poured some straight gin from the bottle down his throat.• Philip picked up his bike, propping it up against the wall so it half slipped again.• Brian propped himself up on his elbows, suddenly remembering that the alarm had gone off.• He props himself up on one elbow.• One table-leg was too short, but she propped it up with a bit of broken dish.prop against• I managed to heave Charlie into the main bar and prop him up against a wall.• Hicks propped him up against the bathroom door and let him talk.• Just as they propped David up against the side of the display counter, the manager strode self-importantly along the aisle.• He propped Freddie up against the wall, and poured some straight gin from the bottle down his throat.prop on/against/with• She stretched and propped herself up on an elbow, aware that something was not quite right.• Brian propped himself up on his elbows, suddenly remembering that the alarm had gone off.• Hefinished the last rep and propped himself up on his elbows.• I could see Peter shaking his head in the fairway, as he propped himself up on his sand wedge.• Harry propped himself up on one elbow and pulled open the top drawer of the bedside cabinet.• Rufus had propped himself up on one elbow, watching.• He props himself up on one elbow. 