PhrasesHub

Stump up

    Definitions

      • to pay a sum of money, especially when it is reluctantly or unexpectedly
        to describe the act of making a payment, often with the implication that it is done with some reluctance or hesitation

      • to contribute or provide something, especially when it is done grudgingly
        to describe the act of offering or providing something, typically with an air of reluctance or dissatisfaction

    Examples of Stump up

    • In order to cover the cost of the unexpected renovations, we'll need John to stump up his share of the expenses.

      In this example, "stump up" is being used as a verb, meaning for John to contribute or pay his portion of the expenses. The idiom comes from the idea of someone being forced to produce something, like digging a stump from the ground. In this context, John is being asked to "dig deep" and contribute his share to the overall expenses.

    • I'm afraid the company won't be able to proceed with the project unless we can stump up the necessary funds.

      Here, "stump up" is being used as a phrasal verb, meaning for the company to quickly and suddenly provide the required resources or funds. Just as a forest worker might have to "stump up" a tree, the company is being asked to produce the necessary resources to move forward with the project.

    • After the initial investment, we'll need you to stump up the ongoing costs for the operation.

      This example is similar to the first, with "stump up" again used as a verb to signify contributing or paying. Here, the context is specifically regarding ongoing costs for an operation, where the person being addressed is being asked to pay their share beyond the initial investment.

    • The team didn't stump up the necessary effort to secure a victory.

      Here, "stump up" is being used as a phrasal verb, but in a different context than before. Instead of referring to a monetary contribution, "stump up" is being used to signify failing to produce or contribute something else, in this case, the required effort for a victory. The idiom reflects the idea of someone failing to provide what's needed, similar to the image of a worker struggling to remove a stubborn tree stump.

    • The sales team failed to meet their targets, we need each member to stump up their individual commissions to meet the departmental financial goal.

      Here, 'stump up' is used as a verb meaning 'to pay' or 'to contribute' in this context. The sales team's collective commissions are being requested by the department to help meet the financial goal as they didn't reach their individual targets.

    • I'm sorry I missed your last two calls, I stumped up for my phone's battery replacement last week and it's still adjusting.

      In this example, 'stump up' is used as a phrasal verb meaning 'to pay' but here also with a little twist. The user has recently paid for replacing the phone's battery, and it's still getting accustomed to the new battery, which is causing some inconvenience in receiving or making the calls.

    • The company's new product launch is running behind schedule, we need to stump up some extra funds if we want to make it in time for the conference.

      Here, 'stump up' is used as a phrasal verb meaning 'to provide' or 'to contribute'. The company needs to contribute some additional finances to complete the product launch in time for the conference as the launch is delayed.

    • The construction project's unexpected costs have surpassed the allocated budget, we need the investor to stump up some extra funds to avoid canceling the project.

      In this final example, 'stump up' is used as a phrasal verb meaning 'to pay' or 'provide'. The construction project has incurred unforeseen expenses that have outstripped the agreed-upon budget. The investor is being solicited for additional funds to continue the project in light of these extra costs.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "stump up" is commonly used to describe the act of paying a sum of money, often with some reluctance or hesitation. It can also refer to providing or contributing something, usually with a sense of dissatisfaction. It is often used in informal or colloquial language to convey a sense of grudging compliance or obligation.

    Origin of "Stump up"

    The origin of the idiom "stump up" is unclear, but it may have originated from the action of literally "stumping up" or digging up a tree stump, which could be seen as a difficult and laborious task. This physical effort may have been likened to the act of reluctantly paying or providing something. Over time, the phrase may have evolved to its current figurative meaning, where it is used to convey the idea of a reluctant or grudging payment or contribution. The idiom is now commonly used in everyday language to express the notion of making a payment or offering something with some degree of reluctance or dissatisfaction.