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speak up
speak up
1. Lit. to speak more loudly. They can't hear you in the back of the room. Please speak up. What? speak up, please. I'm hard of hearing.
2. Fig. to speak out something). If you think that this is wrong, you must speak up and say so. I'm too shy to speak up.
speak up (against someone or something)
to end one's silence and speak negatively and publicly about someone or something. She finally spoke up against her cruel boss. We all felt like we had to speak up and denounce this tyrant.
speak up
to express your opinion He went there to speak up for human rights, and he was arrested for doing it. If you need help, you have to speak up or no one will know.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of speak up (to talk more loudly)
speak up
1. Also, speak out. Talk loudly, so as to be heard, as in Speak up, child, I can't hear you, or He should speak out so that those in back can hear him. The first term dates from the early 1700s, the variant from the early 1500s.
2. Also, speak up for. Express one's opinion or one's support for someone or something. For example, When it comes to speaking up about the town's needs, you can rely on Mary, or I'm glad you spoke up for me in that meeting. [c. 1700]
speak up
v.1. To speak loud enough to be audible: Speak up—I can't hear you.
2. To speak without fear or hesitation: You have to speak up if you want something.