Meaning of 盛り上げ in the following sentence Context: a boxer and his trainer are waiting in the locker's room for a match to start. The president of a famous gym who is also the organizer of the match passes by and just waves at them without even looking them in the eyes. At which the trainer comments (giving him the middle finger): > … Since he used the imperative, I think he was trying to reproach the organizer, but what is the meaning of ? To what the organizer should contribute? Has it something to do with enlivening the atmosphere? Note that the boxer and especially the trainer don't have a good relationship with the president. Thank you for your help!

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The one statement made by you that, to me at least, shows your misinterpretation is:

> "Since he used the imperative, I think he was trying to reproach the organizer"

1) is only what the trainer **_thinks_** that the president would have wanted to say. The **_imaginary_** imperative is being uttered by the president toward the trainer and boxer.

2) And the trainer is **_quoting_** that imaginary remark by using , which means along the line of "Is that what you want to say?" or "Is that what you are saying?".

Hope you are following this logic.

** means "giving a boost to", "warming up", "making something exciting"** , etc. It is the noun form of the transitive verb .

So, the trainer is saying:

> "Geez! 'If anything, contribute in making the show exciting!' Is that what you want to tell us? At least look us in the eye (to say it)!"