heap something (up)on someone or something

heap something (up)on someone or something
heap something (up)on someone or something
1. Lit. to pile something up on someone or something. (

Upon

is formal and less commonly used than

on

.) •

Please don't heap so much trouble upon me!

Wally heaped leaves on the flower bed.

2. Fig. to give someone too much of something, such as homework, praise, criticism, etc. (

Upon

is formal and less commonly used than

on

.) •

Don't heap too much praise on her. She will get conceited.

The manager heaped criticism on the workers.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • heap (something) on someone — heap (something) on (someone/something) to express a strong opinion about someone or something. Other leaders heaped praise on the president at the meeting. Usage notes: often heap scorn on someone or something to express a strong lack of respect …   New idioms dictionary

  • heap (something) on something — heap (something) on (someone/something) to express a strong opinion about someone or something. Other leaders heaped praise on the president at the meeting. Usage notes: often heap scorn on someone or something to express a strong lack of respect …   New idioms dictionary

  • heap (something) on — (someone/something) to express a strong opinion about someone or something. Other leaders heaped praise on the president at the meeting. Usage notes: often heap scorn on someone or something to express a strong lack of respect: He heaped scorn on …   New idioms dictionary

  • heap scorn on something — heap/pour/scorn on someone/something/ phrase to criticize someone or something severely and in a way that shows you think they deserve no respect Both candidates have heaped scorn on the budget agreement. Thesaurus: to criticize stronglysynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • heap scorn on someone — heap/pour/scorn on someone/something/ phrase to criticize someone or something severely and in a way that shows you think they deserve no respect Both candidates have heaped scorn on the budget agreement. Thesaurus: to criticize stronglysynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • heap coals on someone's head — To do something nice or kind to someone who has been nasty to you. If someone felt bad because they forgot to get you a Christmas gift, for you to buy them a specially nice gift is heaping coals on their head. ( Heap coals of fire is also used.) …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • heap — /hip / (say heep) noun 1. an assemblage of things, lying one on another; a pile: a heap of stones. 2. (sometimes plural) Colloquial a great quantity or number; a multitude: a heap better; heaps further. 3. Colloquial something very old and… …  

  • heap — [[t]hi͟ːp[/t]] heaps, heaping, heaped 1) N COUNT: oft N of n A heap of things is a pile of them, especially a pile arranged in a rather untidy way. ...a heap of bricks. ...a compost heap... He has dug up the tiles that cover the floor and left… …   English dictionary

  • heap — heap1 [ hip ] noun count * 1. ) a large pile of something, especially a messy pile: a rubbish heap heap of: The bomb had reduced the building to a heap of rubble. be in a heap: His clothes were in a crumpled heap on the floor. in heaps: The… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • heap — heap1 [hi:p] n [: Old English;] 1.) a large untidy pile of things ▪ a rubbish heap heap of ▪ There was a heap of stones where the building used to be. in a heap ▪ The envelopes for posting lay in a heap on her desk. ▪ We piled the branches into… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • heap — I UK [hiːp] / US [hɪp] noun [countable] Word forms heap : singular heap plural heaps * 1) a large pile of something, especially an untidy pile a rubbish heap heap of: The bomb had reduced the building to a heap of rubble. be in a heap: His… …   English dictionary

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