speak up for

speak up for — 片語動詞

  • speak up forbase form
  • speaks up for3rd person singular
  • speaking up for-ing form
  • spoke up forpast simple
  • spoken up forpast participle

1. to say things in support of a person, group, or idea, especially when others are

1.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

聲援；挺

透過發言支持某人或某事

to say things in support of a person, group, or idea, especially when others are criticising them or when doing so takes courage

例句

Meera spoke up for her colleague when the manager unfairly criticised the team's work.

Meera 在主管不公平地批評團隊工作時，挺身為同事說話。

speak up for + person being criticised

The charity works to speak up for the rights of children in developing countries.

這個慈善機構致力為開發中國家兒童的權利發聲。

同義詞
  • defend

    broader; can include physical or legal protection, not just speech

  • support

    weaker; can mean backing without actively speaking

  • champion

    more formal; suggests enthusiastic, sustained advocacy

  • advocate for

    more formal; often used in legal or policy contexts

反義詞
  • oppose

    to be against someone or something

  • criticise

    to point out faults rather than defend

文法句型

speak up for + noun phrase

用法筆記

Always transitive — the object is the person, group, or thing being supported. The preposition 'for' is obligatory and directly follows 'speak up'; the object cannot be placed between 'speak' and 'up'.

常見錯誤

❌I spoke up my friend in the meeting.
✅I spoke up for my friend in the meeting.
💡'for' is a required preposition after 'speak up' when supporting someone.
❌She spoke her colleague up for.
✅She spoke up for her colleague.
💡the object must follow the whole phrasal verb; it cannot split 'speak up'.