Hey, there! How was your weekend?

Today let’s learn some uses of the phrasal verb to back up. Are you ready? Let’s go for it!

The first use of to back up is to say or show that what someone says is true. Here are some examples:

Jane would back me up if she were here.
There’s no evidence to back up his accusations.
These theories have not been backed up by research.
All the evidence backs up her story.

Following the same line of thought, to back up also means to help or support:

The plan’s success depends on how vigorously the UN will back it up with action.
The police officers are backed up by extra teams of people at the weekend.

As a Portuguese speaker you will also know that to back up means to make a copy of information that is store on a computer:

Make sure you back up.
These devices can back up the whole system.
Back all your files up onto CDs.

When we’re talking about cars (or people) to back up means to move backwards. If traffic backs up, it forms a long line of vehicles that cannot move.

The truck stopped and then backed up.
I backed the car up a little.
I need everyone to back up about 10 paces.
The traffic was starting to back up in both directions.
The traffic is backed up for six miles on the road to the coast.

To back up is used, furthermore, to say that [1] your toilet is clogged, [2] systems slow down or stop working or [3] when you want someone to repeat something that was said earlier:

My toilet’s backed up again. Do you know a good plumber?
Orders are really backed up this month.
Back up: didn’t you say they had already met?

Remember to keep an eye out to the texts you read and the movies/series that you watch to see how this phrasal verb is used in other contexts.

Examples taken from the Macmillan and Longman online dictionaries.

Hope you have a great week!