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Which way is UP?
3

Which way is UP?

Which way is UP?

2
(OP)


First of all, I must admit that this is not my original work, but it was sent to me from a friend.  However, discussion of this topic lends itself to this forum.  I thought it might stir things UP.

Quote:

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meaning than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP."  If you are not confused after reading this you must really be messed "UP."

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list but when we waken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP?

Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?  We call UP our friends, we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen.  We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.

At other times the little word has real special meaning.

People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, mess UP and think UP excuses.  To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special and this is confusing.

A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.  We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.

We seem pretty mixed UP about UP.

To be knowledgeable of the proper uses of UP, look UP the word in the dictionary.  In a desk size dictionary, UP takes UP almost 1/4 the page and definitions add UP to about thirty.

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used.  It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP.  When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP.  When it rains, it wets UP the earth.  When it doesn't rain for a while, things dry UP.

One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP so, I'll shut UP!!!

And then there’s the proverbial “UP yours”.  Hey, what’s UP with that?


Rich Geoffroy
Polymer Services Group
POLYSERV@aol.com

RE: Which way is UP?

Precisely my opinion. I have preached against the excessive and irrelevant use of up, to little avail.

I begin with "open up". That really irritates me, and it is universally used.

My question is; "is 'open up' more open than open?".
I conclude that "up" is a filler, intended to keep the discussion going, and maybe to keep anyone else from getting a word in.
jimbo

Buy a dictionary, keep it nearby and USE it. Webster's New World Dictionary of American English is recommended, and Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

RE: Which way is UP?

I agree. This is also similar to filler words like "ah".... instead of pausing in silence to gather your thoughts or "you know what I mean" after one or two spoken phrases. I was having a conversation with an office co-worker the other day and this person kept on using the phrase "you know what I mean" to make sure I was following their thought process.

Very irritating.......ah...... know what I mean....

RE: Which way is UP?

I don't know how to interprate but I interpret. I also have a problem with 2 foot and 3 foot. Foot is singular and should be feet in this example. So properly written How do I interpret 2 feet by 3 feet by 1 inch.

A 2-legged man on a 3-legged bar stool within and inch of drinking a beer.

RE: Which way is UP?

How do we engineers "put up" with our treatement.
Why do we always get "put down" by managers.
Why is it the "height" of fashion? the depths of despair?

JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
Eng-Tips: Pro bono publico, by engineers, for engineers.

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

RE: Which way is UP?

Then there's always the U.P.!

RE: Which way is UP?

Say yah to 'da U.P., eh!

RE: Which way is UP?

Can anyone shed some light on this?  When I read RichGeoffroy's quote, all I see are Rhomboidal characters, black triangles, diamonds and a whole lot of Q-bert type curse characters. It appears as if you all were able to read it, and it must be good stuff to get two purple stars.  My internet explorer must be out of date.

ChemE, M.E. EIT
"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

RE: Which way is UP?

metengr

My problem with "ya know" began many years ago on a construction site. A person was telling me something and he said "ya know" repeatedly. I admit getting a bit annoyed.

So I asked him why his lips were moving if I already knew. He did not get it.
jimbo

Buy a dictionary, keep it nearby and USE it. Webster's New World Dictionary of American English is recommended, and Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

RE: Which way is UP?

Wow!  "UP" really is invasive!  The quote is absolutely right - I'd never noticed the preponderance of the word.  As a result of not having noticed that before, I haven't developed a dislike for the use (or overuse) of the word "up" that I have for "you know" and "like."  Now I'll probably begin noticing it.  (Only time will tell if I become annoyed by it.)

RE: Which way is UP?

As I read it, it can be defined as "to increase". To "wake up" is to increase your wakefullness (is that really a word?), "Brighten up" is to increase the brightness, etc. Logically, I can see how this would come into the current lexicon, as from "Fill this container up to here" could have been shortened to "Fill it up" etc. As this usage became more frequent, the common "to increase" definition probably went by the wayside.

I would certainly agree that it is overused, but when you have an ever expanding language, especially one based on commerce and free trade (Hmm, I've made a new product, lets name it something [See the thread on meggering]), this is going to happen.

Just my opinion though, and I'm no expert, so lighten up. ;)

Byron T.

RE: Which way is UP?

ByronT's post reminded me of an incident at a gasoline service station, back in the days when the fuel was put in the vehicle for you.

I told  the attendant to "fill it".

He replied "fill it up?", so I told him to fill it any direction he chose.

He didn't get it, but I got gasoline.

Buy a dictionary, keep it nearby and USE it. Webster's New World Dictionary of American English is recommended, and Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

RE: Which way is UP?

Err, What's up Doc?

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