build on (something)

to add another thing to something that already exists.

In his new book he builds on his own discoveries, and he builds on current theory.

The president is building upon the extraordinary commitment to volunteerism Americans have.

• have by the balls
• have by the short and curlies
• have cake and eat it
• have cake and eat it too
• have carte blanche
• have clean hands
• have come a long way
• have coming out ears
• have coming out of ears
• have coming out of your ears
• have coming out your ears
• have day in court
• have dead to rights
• have designs on
• have designs on someone
• have designs on something
• have dibs on
• have dibs on something
• have done more something than has had hot dinners
• have done more something than someone has had hot dinners
• have done more than has had hot dinners
• have done more than someone has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more something than has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more something than someone has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more than has had hot dinners