1
general::
Phrase(s): amount to something
1. Lit. [for someone or something] to become worthwhile or successful. • I hope Charles amounts to something some day. • I doubt that this business will ever amount to anything really profitable. 2. Fig. [for something] to be the equivalent of something. • Why, doing this amounts to cheating! • Your comments amount to treason. 3. and amount (up) to something [for a sum of money] to increase [to a large amount]. • Is that everything you want to buy? That amounts to twenty dollars. • These charges amount up to a lot., Phrase(s): amount (up) to something
Go to amount to something.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Add up, develop into, as in Even though she's careful with her money, her savings don't amount to much, or All parents hope that their children will amount to something. [Mid-1500s] 2. Be equivalent to, as in Twenty persons won't amount to a good turnout. [Late 1300s] Also see AMOUNT TO THE SAME THING.
American Heritage Idioms