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Phrase(s): bank something up (against something)
1. to heap or mound up something so that it presses against something. • Walter banked the coals up against the side of the furnace. • He banked up the coals against the side. • Tim banked the coals up. 2. to heap or mound up something to guard against something. • They had to build barriers to hide behind. They banked dirt and rubble up against the oncoming attackers. • Who banked up this dirt against the flood? • The river was rising, so we banked some dirt up.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs