1
general::
Phrase(s): build on(to) something [and] build on
to add to something by constructing an extension. • Do you plan to build onto this house? • Yes, we are going to build on., Phrase(s): build something (up)on something
1. Lit. to construct something on the base of something else. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) • The ancients built their houses upon the houses of earlier people. 2. Fig. to add to and develop something that already exists. • We have a good reputation and we must build on it. • He has to build on his strong friendships with the customers., Phrase(s): build (up)on something
1. to construct something on a particular space. (Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) • Are you going to build upon this land? • Yes, we will build on it. 2. to start with something and add to it. (Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) • Our progress has been good so far. Let’s build on it. • We will build upon the success of our forebears., Phrase(s): build something on
Go to build something on(to) something and build something on, Phrase(s): build something on(to) something [and] build something on
to construct an extension onto a building. • We are going to build a garage onto this side of the house. • We will build on a new garage. • The people next door are not going to build anything on.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
Also, build upon. Add as an extension; use as a basis or foundation. For example, They decided to build on an addition, or She was building all her hopes on passing the exam. John Locke had this idiom in his treatise on government (1689): "Sovereignty built on ‘property' . . . comes to nothing." [Late 1600s]
American Heritage Idioms