Phrasal Verb - adding up to
Definition
The phrasal verb "add up to" encompasses several meanings, primarily revolving around the concepts of totality, outcome, and logical coherence. In its most literal sense, it refers to the act of calculating or resulting in a specific numerical sum when individual parts, quantities, or figures are combined; for instance, several expenses individually will, when totaled, "add up to" a final amount. Beyond simple arithmetic, it signifies that a series of actions, events, facts, or details collectively lead to, constitute, or signify a particular outcome, conclusion, or meaning. This implies that various components, when considered in conjunction, culminate in a specific result or interpretation. For example, a succession of minor issues might "add up to" a major problem. Furthermore, and often used in the negative form ("doesn't add up"), it means to make logical sense, be consistent, or be credible. If a story, explanation, or set of facts "doesn't add up," it implies there are inconsistencies, contradictions, or missing pieces of information that prevent it from being believable, coherent, or rationally understandable.
Examples
No. | Examples |
|---|---|
| 1 | All the small purchases added up to a surprisingly large bill at the end of the month. |
| 2 | The manager reviewed the project costs to see if they added up to the initial budget estimate. |
| 3 | The clues in the mystery simply didn't add up, leading the detective to suspect foul play. |
| 4 | What do all these economic indicators ultimately add up to for the future of the market? |
| 5 | If you combine all the donations, it should add up to enough money to fund the entire charity event. |
| 6 | Her excuses for consistently being late never add up, which makes us question her commitment. |
| 7 | The cumulative effect of these minor policy changes can add up to a significant shift in corporate culture. |
| 8 | We need to check the inventory; the number of items sold doesn't add up to what's remaining on the shelves. |
| 9 | His conflicting statements about his whereabouts made it clear that his alibi didn't add up to the truth. |
| 10 | Every small effort, when compounded over time, can add up to extraordinary achievements. |