plough back
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle back
Meanings
Reinvest profits into a business rather than taking them as income
Why “back”? Something returns to an earlier state.
“They ploughed profits back into research.”
“The studio ploughed earnings back into new cameras.”
Don't confuse with
Plough back means reinvest profits into a business rather than taking them as income. Plough down means knock something or someone down with great force, like a vehicle.
Test yourself
“They ploughed profits back into research.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
plough down
A contrast learners often mix up
Knock something or someone down with great force, like a vehicle
bring back
Same back pattern: normal again
Return with someone or something to the original place; Cause memories to return to the mind; Reintroduce a custom, law or product
come back
Same back pattern: normal again
Return to a place; Become popular or fashionable again; Be remembered after being forgotten
date back
Same back pattern: normal again
Have origins from an earlier time
look back
Same back pattern: normal again
Think about events in the past
reach back
Same back pattern: normal again
Extend memory or influence into the past
roll back
Same back pattern: normal again
Reverse a change or policy
take back
Same back pattern: normal again
Reclaim something you gave; Retract a statement; Carry something back to where it came from; Make someone remember a past time vividly; Re-employ or accept a person again
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