What’s up? Feel like learning more ways to us the word ‘up’ in English?  Well you have come to the right place!  Today we are going to give it up for this amazing two-letter word that just pops up all over the place in English.

You couldn’t ask for a more versatile word than up – look at all the different ways it can be used:

Adverb: to indicate something is in a higher positions, i.e. toward the sky
Example: He looked up in the sky to see the balloon.

Preposition: to go from a lower to a higher point
Example: I climbed up the ladder.

Adjective: directed to or moving toward a higher place
Example: Take the up escalator at the end of the walkway.

Noun: A time of good fortune.
Example: The company has had some ups and downs.

Verb: to increase
Example: My hairdresser has upped her prices.

There are many more definitions than just these. In fact I’m sure everyone reading this post could think of a different way to use the word up.  But now I am going to go over some common and useful expressions using the word up to help expand your vocabulary a little more.

Expressions using ‘up’:

What’s up?: synonym for ‘How are you?’ ‘What is happening?’ ‘What is going on?’
Example: “What’s up Paula?” “Oh nothing, I’m just out enjoying the day.”

to pop up: to appear suddenly
Example: The house popped up into view as we turned the corner.

to give it up: a request to give praise or applause
Example: Give it up for the band for putting on such a great show.

to be fed up: to be annoyed
Example: I’m fed up with all this work my boss keeps giving me.

to catch up: to get to the point you should be, after a  period of delay
Example: We have to catch up to the rest of the group before they leave on the bus.

two thumbs up: indicates approval, especially for a movie
Example: I give it two thumbs up, it was the best movie I’ve seen all year.

to shut up: stop talking
Example: The mom got so annoyed with all the noise she told her children to shut up.

up-to-date: the latest information or news
Example: The president asked for the most up-to-date report on the crisis.

to listen up: a way of asking people to come to attention and listen carefully
Example: Listen up everyone, we just received our orders for the mission.