send up

To cause someone or something to go upward or to a higher place, level, or amount.

• They sent up a balloon.
• Higher fuel costs sent food prices up.
• Please send the repair worker up to the roof.

How to use it: send someone/something up to something (They sent supplies up to the mountain camp.)

Similar words: raise, lift

Opposites: lower

Common phrases: send something up, send someone up

To copy someone’s behaviour or the style of something in a funny way that makes fun of it.

• The comedian sends up politicians.
• Their film sent up old detective stories.
• She enjoyed being sent up in the comedy show.

How to use it: send someone/something up (The sketch sends up television news presenters.)

Similar words: parody, mock, satirize

Common phrases: send someone up, send something up

To produce smoke, sparks, dust, or similar things that move upward into the air.

• The fire sent up sparks.
• The truck sent up a cloud of dust.
• Burning leaves were sending up thick smoke.

How to use it: send up a cloud/shower of something (The wheels sent up a cloud of dust.)

Similar words: give off, emit

Common phrases: send up sparks, send up smoke

To send someone to prison as punishment for a crime.

• The judge sent him up.
• They sent her up for five years.
• He was sent up after the robbery trial.

How to use it: send someone up for something (The judge sent him up for robbery.); send someone up for a period of time (They sent her up for two years.)

Similar words: imprison, jail, lock up

Opposites: release

Common phrases: send someone up, send him up