Monday, September 13, 2010

For My Interpreters

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.'

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken 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.

And 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, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.

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.

3 comments:

Jerilyn said...

And that's why interpreting is never dull.

English is so bizarre. I never realized so much "UPness" was in my life. Very thorough list, I like it!

Really Rockin' Rhonda said...

Thanks for making me laugh this morning when I'm not feeling good! The reason why our job is so difficult is because English is so messed UP!

doug said...

Pish posh. "Run," now that's a word.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/run