VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

bolted on

adjective, phrase·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˌbəʊltɪd ˈɒn/
US/ˌboʊltɪd ˈɑːn/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Attached as an extra part that was not part of the original design.

    Grammar: Usually comes before the noun: a bolted-on conservatory. It can also follow 'be': The garage is bolted on.

    Patterns

    • a bolted-on part
    • a bolted-on extension

    The house has a bolted-on conservatory at the back.

    They added a bolted-on balcony that does not match the rest of the building.

  2. adjectivebefore a noundisapproving

    Added to something later and fitting badly with what was already there.

    Grammar: Used mainly before a noun to show disapproval: a bolted-on policy, a bolted-on feature.

    Patterns

    • a bolted-on feature
    • a bolted-on policy
    • a bolted-on solution

    The new tax feels like a bolted-on extra rather than part of a clear plan.

    Reviewers said the software's security was a bolted-on afterthought.

  3. phraseafter a verb

    Fixed in place with long metal screws called bolts.

    Grammar: This is the literal past-participle use: The sign was bolted on. It describes real bolts, not ideas.

    Patterns

    • be bolted on
    • bolted on to something

    The nameplate was bolted on to the gate.

    A rack had been bolted on to the back of the van.

Common combinations

a bolted-on extra
The fee looks like a bolted-on extra.
a bolted-on afterthought
The ending feels like a bolted-on afterthought.
bolted on to something
The shelf was bolted on to the wall.
feel bolted on
The final chapter feels bolted on.

Synonyms and how they differ

added
Neutral and simply means put in as well; 'bolted on' suggests the addition does not fit well.
attached
Describes physical joining and carries no criticism, unlike the figurative use of 'bolted on'.
tacked on
Very close in meaning for ideas or features added carelessly, but 'tacked on' is more informal.

Opposites

built-inintegrated

Word family

bolt verb
To fasten something with a bolt; also to run away suddenly.
bolt-on adjective
The hyphenated form used before a noun, meaning added as an extra part.

Commonly confused: bolted on or built-in?

bolted on vs built-in

'Built-in' means made as part of the original design, the opposite of 'bolted on'.

Practice

The company's new safety rules felt like a ______ addition to an old system.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “bolted on”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words