frame up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
Make an innocent person look guilty by planting false evidence — or build the frame of a structure.
Literal meaning: To put together a frame (structure) — transparent in the construction sense; idiomatic in the criminal sense.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To falsely incriminate an innocent person by fabricating or planting evidence.
"He spent ten years in prison before it was proven he had been framed up."
"I've been framed!"
— Common stock phrase in crime fiction; famously uttered by wrongly accused characters in countless films and novels
Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral
To construct or assemble the frame or structural skeleton of a building.
"They framed up the walls of the shed in just a few hours."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
The criminal sense ('frame someone up') is very common in crime fiction, journalism, and film. The corresponding noun is 'frame-up'. The construction sense is more literal and less common. 'Frame' alone is frequently used without 'up' for the criminal sense.
Commonly used with
innocent person suspect evidence murder crime building
Forms
Base
frame up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
frames up
he/she/it
Past simple
framed up
yesterday
Past participle
framed up
have + pp
-ing form
framing up
continuous
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