cobble together
B2 informal inseparable transitive
In simple words
To make something fast by putting different pieces together, even if it doesn't look perfect.
Literal meaning: 'Cobble' originally meant to mend shoes roughly; 'cobble together' evokes the image of stitching things together clumsily.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To produce or assemble something hastily and imperfectly from available resources.
"The team cobbled together a presentation the night before the board meeting."
"They cobbled together a coalition government that few thought would last."
— The Economist, 2010 (referring to the UK coalition government)
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To write or compose something quickly and without great care.
"He cobbled together a few paragraphs and called it a report."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Always carries a connotation of improvisation and imperfection. Widely used in journalism and everyday speech. Often used with objects like 'a plan', 'a deal', 'a meal', or 'a solution'.
Commonly used with
plan deal solution meal agreement speech
Forms
Base
cobble together
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cobbles together
he/she/it
Past simple
cobbled together
yesterday
Past participle
cobbled together
have + pp
-ing form
cobbling together
continuous
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