To assemble or produce something quickly and roughly, using whatever materials or ideas are available.
To make something fast by putting different pieces together, even if it doesn't look perfect.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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)
To write or compose something quickly and without great care.
"He cobbled together a few paragraphs and called it a report."
'Cobble' originally meant to mend shoes roughly; 'cobble together' evokes the image of stitching things together clumsily.
To make something fast by putting different pieces together, even if it doesn't look perfect.
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'.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "cobble together" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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