build-up
(ˈbɪldʌp)
[f. build v. 4 and 5.]
a. An accumulation of favourable publicity designed to popularize a person, product, etc. Also, simply, preparatory work, preparation. Cf. build v. 4 b. colloq. (orig. U.S. slang).
| 1927 Collier's 3 Dec. 10/4 That's the old build-up for the Patsys. 1935 Time 24 June 26 One Night of Love had a build-up unrivaled in cinema history. 1935 Evening News 29 June 3/2 The swindler's talk..arouses the interest and acquisitive instincts of the mug... The ‘build-up’ has been made. 1936 Wodehouse Laughing Gas x. 103, I thought it might soften her a little if you gave the old boy a build-up. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §241/1 Preparation,..build-up. Ibid. §489/1 Build-up, preparatory work for a crime. 1950 R. Chandler Trouble is my Business 228 The threats were a build-up for a killing. 1953 J. Pudney Ring for Luck 16 A big build-up for the indispensable Miss Motting, ‘without whom nobody ticks in Fragos’. 1955 R. M. Lumiansky Of Sondry Folk viii. 85 The scene is to be understood as his careful preparation—the present-day term ‘build-up’ is apt here—for playing a joke on the Host. 1957 Economist 12 Oct. 120/2 Mr Howard gives more space for her early life—the perfect build-up for her subsequent adventures. |
b. (Usu. gradual) accumulation, increase; spec. Mil. an accumulation of troops, weapons, etc. Also attrib.
| 1943 Daily Tel. 22 Apr. 1/2 The last four months' patient build up of Allied air power. 1944 Times 15 May 4/3 The build-up in the Eighth Army bridgehead across the River Rapido continued during the night. Ibid. 25 July 4/4 The build-up period lacks the excitement of the initial assaults. 1955 Times 14 July 4/7 The build-up of case law by the tribunal. 1958 I. Brown Words in our Time 29 There is now evidence of some spread in the population locally, but no evidence at present of any large build-up. 1964 Ann. Reg. 1963 150 On the basis of one of these reports, the Security Council noted with alarm the arms build-up in South Africa. 1969 Times 2 Jan. 16/1 Professor Semple's team detected a massive build-up of the bacteria in several kinds of food on the premises. |
c. The gradual development or exposition of a theme, argument, work of art, etc.; artistic construction.
| 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §522/10 Build-up, initial plot development. 1953 A. Upfield Murder must Wait ix. 78 The build-up of the background against which five infants had been stolen. 1958 Spectator 8 Aug. 191/3 The slow build-up of All My Sons..is deliberate. 1959 H. Read Concise Hist. Mod. Painting vi. 193 The whole build-up, or orchestration, of form and colour is purposively expressive. |