buoy up meaning and definition

BUOY UP verb

Definition of buoy up (verb)

1. become more cheerful
   • "after a glass of wine, he lightened up a bit"
   • synonyms: lighten, lighten up
2. make more cheerful
   • "the conversation lightened me up a bit"
   • synonyms: lighten, lighten up
   • antonym: weigh down
3. keep afloat
   • "The life vest buoyed him up"
   • synonyms: buoy