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#119199 01/09/04 05:59 AM
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Maybe these would be better illustrations of my point, quoting from above:

"...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..."

Hard to see much change in nuance when the UP is deleted.



#119200 01/09/04 01:41 PM
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I dunno. I might lock a door but I wouldn't lock up a door. If I locked up the house, I think it would be a much more elaborate process involving going round checking the windows, locking several doors, setting burglar alarms and so on.

Similarly if you said you'd cleaned up the kitchen rather than just cleaned it, I would visualise the kitchen being restored to order after a five-course meal for twenty rather than just a few tops being wiped down.

Bingley


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#119201 01/09/04 01:49 PM
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We call UP our friends, we use it to brighten UP a room

Calling our friends and calling up our friends might not suggest any great differences in nuance, but calling up the troops is a world away from calling the troops.

To me, brightening a room would be done by adding lighting, brightening up a room would be done by repainting the walls a lighter color, washing the windows, maybe even putting in new windows where none were before.


#119202 01/09/04 04:10 PM
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And what, pray tell, is the nuance of difference between close up and up close?


#119203 01/09/04 04:17 PM
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I think "up close and personal" suggests the elevation to an eye-level threat with invasion of your personal space bubble... kind of how someone's body language actually works when they stretch to their full height before breathing their garlic fumes in your face!


#119204 01/09/04 04:18 PM
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When I was a teacher of ESL, I had a hell of a time explaining the difference between burn up and burn down, slow up and slow down, etc. I'm not sure I really even know.


#119205 01/09/04 04:19 PM
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Depends on is it kloz up or klos up.


#119206 01/09/04 04:24 PM
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Confucius say, no such thing as rxxx. Woman with klos up can run faster than man with klos down.


#119207 01/09/04 09:50 PM
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"And what, pray tell, is the nuance of difference between close up and up close?"

"Close Up" is a registered trademark for a brand of toothpaste that implies an improved "up close" relationship.


#119208 01/10/04 02:06 PM
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O, ye of faint heart! Tiptoeing around the rude "UP yours!"


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