sum up
Meaning(s)
1. a brief summary, encapsulate
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
sum up the importance of something/somebody
Analysis
To 'sum something up' means to give a short or brief summary. If you 'sum up' a speech, report or lesson you give the main information again or describe the main points as briefly as possible. In law, during a court trial, a judge may 'sum up' the main information in a case that the jury should consider. This is a phrasal verb use both in social and professional contexts.
Social Examples (Basic)
- Mary constantly played her music too loud, even late at night. Tom summed up what everyone in the house was thinking when he told her that her behaviour was unacceptable.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- Our boss spoke for a long time at the meeting so I can't remember everything that was said, but, to sum up, she basically emphasized the importance of teamwork in any successful company.
- The fact that Jane has never had a customer make a complaint about her in 25 years of working in retail sums up just how good she is at her job.