bump up

To quickly raise an amount, number, or level.

• They bumped up the price.
• The company bumped our pay up last month.
• Will extra demand bump up the cost?

How to use it: bump something up by an amount (They bumped the rent up by fifty pounds.); bump something up to an amount (We bumped the budget up to ten thousand dollars.)

Similar words: raise, increase, hike

Opposites: lower, reduce

Common phrases: bump up prices, bump up wages

To meet a problem, rule, or opposing force that makes progress difficult.

• We bumped up against a legal problem.
• Their ambitions keep bumping up against financial limits.
• The reform movement bumped up against strong political opposition.

How to use it: bump up against something (Our plans bumped up against strict safety rules.)

Similar words: come up against, encounter

Common phrases: bump up against, bump up against limits

To move someone to a higher grade, rank, or class.

• They bumped him up a grade.
• She was bumped up to a senior role.
• Could the school bump our daughter up to the next class?

How to use it: bump someone up to a grade/rank (They bumped her up to the senior class.)

Similar words: promote

Opposites: demote

Common phrases: bump up someone, bump up students

To move someone or something to an earlier or more noticeable place in a list or order.

• They bumped my name up the list.
• The editor bumped the story up to the front page.
• Can urgent cases be bumped up the queue?

How to use it: bump someone/something up the list/queue (The hospital bumped her up the waiting list.)

Similar words: advance, move up

Common phrases: bump up someone, bump up something

To hit something while moving.

• The boat bumped up against the dock.
• My head bumped up against the low ceiling.
• The loose panel bumps up on the frame when the door closes.

How to use it: bump up against something (The cart bumped up against the wall.)

Similar words: bump into, collide with

Common phrases: bump up against, bump up on

To copy recorded video from a narrower type of tape onto a wider type.

• The editor bumped up the footage.
• We bumped the recording up to a wider tape format.
• Can this old tape be bumped up for editing?

How to use it: bump something up to a format (The studio bumped the footage up to a wider tape format.)

Similar words: transfer, copy

Common phrases: bump up footage, bump up tapes