carve up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, sometimes pejorative. Common in journalism, business, and politics.
Quick answer
What does “carve up” mean?
To divide something, especially something of value like territory, money, or market share, into parts, often unfairly or secretly among a limited group.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To divide something, especially something of value like territory, money, or market share, into parts, often unfairly or secretly among a limited group.
To partition or apportion resources, responsibilities, or spoils, typically implying a lack of fairness, transparency, or competition. Can also refer to the physical act of slicing food, but this is less common as a phrasal verb.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use it identically in core meaning. Possibly slightly more frequent in British political/journalistic discourse regarding constituency boundaries or public assets.
Connotations
Equally negative in both, suggesting underhand dealings.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. Well-understood in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “carve up” in a Sentence
[Subject - often a group] carve up [Object] (between/among themselves)They carved up the market.The spoils were carved up.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carve up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The rival firms were found to have carved up the contracts.
- After the war, the victors carved up the occupied territories.
American English
- The commissioners carved up the city into new voting districts.
- They're just carving up the company's assets before the bankruptcy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The two giants were accused of carving up the telecoms market between them."
Academic
Used in political science/history: "The colonial powers carved up the continent at the Berlin Conference."
Everyday
"The siblings carved up their parents' old furniture." (Less negative connotation possible here.)
Technical
Rare. Could be used in computing for partitioning a hard drive, but 'partition' is standard.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “carve up”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “carve up”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carve up”
- Using it for positive, collaborative divisions. 'Let's carve up the tasks' sounds predatory; 'Let's divide up the tasks' is neutral.
- Using a non-divisible object: 'He carved up the statue' implies destruction, not phrasal verb meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly yes. It implies a division that benefits the dividers, often unfairly or secretly. In very casual contexts (e.g., carving up a pizza), it can be neutral, but 'divide up' or 'share out' are safer neutral choices.
'Carve up' is dividing an existing whole. 'Carve out' means to create or secure a portion for oneself, often through effort: 'She carved out a successful career' or 'The company carved out a niche in the market.'
Yes, but less commonly as a set phrasal verb. 'He carved up the roast beef' is grammatically fine, but it's simply 'carve' + adverb. The idiomatic meaning dominates, so using it physically might cause momentary confusion.
Yes, especially in British English. 'The privatisation was seen as a carve-up favouring political insiders.' It carries the same negative connotations.
To divide something, especially something of value like territory, money, or market share, into parts, often unfairly or secretly among a limited group.
Carve up is usually informal, sometimes pejorative. common in journalism, business, and politics. in register.
Carve up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːv ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːrv ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “carve up the spoils”
- “carve up the pie”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine politicians around a map, using a knife (to CARVE) to cut it INTO PIECES (UP) for themselves.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIVISION IS CUTTING (with a blade). CONTROL/OWNERSHIP IS POSSESSION OF A PIECE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'carve up' LEAST appropriate?