prime the pump
prime the pump · primes the pump · primed the pump · priming the pump
To engage in deficit spendingTo engage in deficit spending.
Meaning
3 senses(idiomatic)To engage in deficit spending.
(idiomatic, informal)To give something in order to create the conditions where others will give in return.
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see prime, the, pump.
Origin
As an idiomatic term, from the 1930s. From the metaphor of filling (priming) a liquid pumpAs an idiomatic term, from the 1930s. From the metaphor of filling (priming) a liquid pump in order to prepare it for operation.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
primes the pump, priming the pump, primed the pump, primed the pump| Base form | prime the pump · to prime the pump |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | primes the pump |
| Present participle | priming the pump |
| Past simple | primed the pump |
| Past participle | primed the pump |
irregular
Word family
1 related wordsRelatedpump-prime
Lessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.