Which way is UP?
Which way is UP?
2
RichGeoffroy (Materials)
(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?
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?
Very irritating.......ah...... know what I mean....
RE: Which way is UP?
A 2-legged man on a 3-legged bar stool within and inch of drinking a beer.
RE: Which way is UP?
Why do we always get "put down" by managers.
Why is it the "height" of fashion? the depths of despair?
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
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RE: Which way is UP?
RE: Which way is UP?
RE: Which way is UP?
ChemE, M.E. EIT
"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee
RE: Which way is UP?
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?
RE: Which way is UP?
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?
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?