What is the meaning of ‘drive up’?
He was marching up and down in front of the camp when four officers drove up in a car. What is the meaning of ‘drove up’?
meaning
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He was marching up and down in front of the camp when four officers drove up in a car. What is the meaning of ‘drove up’?
meaning
edited yesterday
Zebrafish
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asked yesterday
Y. zengY. zeng
272
New contributor
Y. zeng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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I've cancelled the down-vote with an up-vote. This is an interesting question about the English language : why use a preposition and, if so, why on earth use 'up' when other dimensions would be far more appropriate ? It is also difficult to research such questions because of the simplicity of the language and I think that leeway should be allowed in such cases.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
I down-voted because the OP had just asked the meaning of 'drive by'.
– Kate Bunting
22 hours ago
add a comment |
He was marching up and down in front of the camp when four officers drove up in a car. What is the meaning of ‘drove up’?
meaning
edited yesterday
Zebrafish
10.5k31336
asked yesterday
Y. zengY. zeng
272
New contributor
Y. zeng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
He was marching up and down in front of the camp when four officers drove up in a car. What is the meaning of ‘drove up’?
meaning
meaning
edited yesterday
Zebrafish
10.5k31336
asked yesterday
Y. zengY. zeng
272
New contributor
Y. zeng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
Zebrafish
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asked yesterday
Y. zengY. zeng
272
New contributor
Y. zeng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited yesterday
Zebrafish
10.5k31336
edited yesterday
Zebrafish
10.5k31336
edited yesterday
Zebrafish
10.5k31336
10.5k31336
asked yesterday
Y. zengY. zeng
272
New contributor
Y. zeng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Y. zengY. zeng
272
asked yesterday
Y. zengY. zeng
272
272
New contributor
Y. zeng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Y. zeng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Y. zeng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I've cancelled the down-vote with an up-vote. This is an interesting question about the English language : why use a preposition and, if so, why on earth use 'up' when other dimensions would be far more appropriate ? It is also difficult to research such questions because of the simplicity of the language and I think that leeway should be allowed in such cases.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
I down-voted because the OP had just asked the meaning of 'drive by'.
– Kate Bunting
22 hours ago
add a comment |
I've cancelled the down-vote with an up-vote. This is an interesting question about the English language : why use a preposition and, if so, why on earth use 'up' when other dimensions would be far more appropriate ? It is also difficult to research such questions because of the simplicity of the language and I think that leeway should be allowed in such cases.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
I down-voted because the OP had just asked the meaning of 'drive by'.
– Kate Bunting
22 hours ago
I've cancelled the down-vote with an up-vote. This is an interesting question about the English language : why use a preposition and, if so, why on earth use 'up' when other dimensions would be far more appropriate ? It is also difficult to research such questions because of the simplicity of the language and I think that leeway should be allowed in such cases.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
I've cancelled the down-vote with an up-vote. This is an interesting question about the English language : why use a preposition and, if so, why on earth use 'up' when other dimensions would be far more appropriate ? It is also difficult to research such questions because of the simplicity of the language and I think that leeway should be allowed in such cases.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
I down-voted because the OP had just asked the meaning of 'drive by'.
– Kate Bunting
22 hours ago
I down-voted because the OP had just asked the meaning of 'drive by'.
– Kate Bunting
22 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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votes
In this particular context it's to approach or arrive at a location.
up
adverb
1.So as to approach; near:
came up and kissed me.
American Heritage Dictionary
3To the place where someone is.
‘Dot didn't hear Mrs Parvis come creeping up behind her’
Oxford Living Dictionary
6.to or at a source, origin, center, or the like.
Collins Dictionary
8a : so as to arrive or approach
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
This is a question that's not answered so easily because we use "up" after many verbs. In some cases it changes the meaning entirely, in other cases it doesn't, and removing it would result in much the same meaning.
- I went to the man and asked him for directions.
I went up to the man and asked him for directions.
I drove to Arlington.
- I drove up to Arlington.
In certain cases there may a semantic difference, but it's only generally known from context. In other cases it may be for emphasis of some sort. For example in "driving to" vs "driving up to" the extra word may possibly emphasize effort or distance (leaving aside the cardinal directions (north/south) or uphill/downhill, or not. It's to be understood in the overall context.
The emphasis can also be on appearing without expectation or quickly, as in this example from Oxford Living Dictionaries:
‘He was talking with his client outside the courtroom when a witness rushed up and attacked his client.’
- it came up behind me
is more likely to mean something moved behind you suddenly or without notice more than would be the case from just saying:
- it came behind me
It's uses are many and subtle. I doubt I could give a very good explanation of its use and its meaning. However, in the example case you've shown, the meaning is as I explained at the beginning of my answer.
answered yesterday
ZebrafishZebrafish
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
In this particular context it's to approach or arrive at a location.
up
adverb
1.So as to approach; near:
came up and kissed me.
American Heritage Dictionary
3To the place where someone is.
‘Dot didn't hear Mrs Parvis come creeping up behind her’
Oxford Living Dictionary
6.to or at a source, origin, center, or the like.
Collins Dictionary
8a : so as to arrive or approach
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
This is a question that's not answered so easily because we use "up" after many verbs. In some cases it changes the meaning entirely, in other cases it doesn't, and removing it would result in much the same meaning.
- I went to the man and asked him for directions.
I went up to the man and asked him for directions.
I drove to Arlington.
- I drove up to Arlington.
In certain cases there may a semantic difference, but it's only generally known from context. In other cases it may be for emphasis of some sort. For example in "driving to" vs "driving up to" the extra word may possibly emphasize effort or distance (leaving aside the cardinal directions (north/south) or uphill/downhill, or not. It's to be understood in the overall context.
The emphasis can also be on appearing without expectation or quickly, as in this example from Oxford Living Dictionaries:
‘He was talking with his client outside the courtroom when a witness rushed up and attacked his client.’
- it came up behind me
is more likely to mean something moved behind you suddenly or without notice more than would be the case from just saying:
- it came behind me
It's uses are many and subtle. I doubt I could give a very good explanation of its use and its meaning. However, in the example case you've shown, the meaning is as I explained at the beginning of my answer.
answered yesterday
ZebrafishZebrafish
10.5k31336
add a comment |
In this particular context it's to approach or arrive at a location.
up
adverb
1.So as to approach; near:
came up and kissed me.
American Heritage Dictionary
3To the place where someone is.
‘Dot didn't hear Mrs Parvis come creeping up behind her’
Oxford Living Dictionary
6.to or at a source, origin, center, or the like.
Collins Dictionary
8a : so as to arrive or approach
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
This is a question that's not answered so easily because we use "up" after many verbs. In some cases it changes the meaning entirely, in other cases it doesn't, and removing it would result in much the same meaning.
- I went to the man and asked him for directions.
I went up to the man and asked him for directions.
I drove to Arlington.
- I drove up to Arlington.
In certain cases there may a semantic difference, but it's only generally known from context. In other cases it may be for emphasis of some sort. For example in "driving to" vs "driving up to" the extra word may possibly emphasize effort or distance (leaving aside the cardinal directions (north/south) or uphill/downhill, or not. It's to be understood in the overall context.
The emphasis can also be on appearing without expectation or quickly, as in this example from Oxford Living Dictionaries:
‘He was talking with his client outside the courtroom when a witness rushed up and attacked his client.’
- it came up behind me
is more likely to mean something moved behind you suddenly or without notice more than would be the case from just saying:
- it came behind me
It's uses are many and subtle. I doubt I could give a very good explanation of its use and its meaning. However, in the example case you've shown, the meaning is as I explained at the beginning of my answer.
answered yesterday
ZebrafishZebrafish
10.5k31336
add a comment |
In this particular context it's to approach or arrive at a location.
up
adverb
1.So as to approach; near:
came up and kissed me.
American Heritage Dictionary
3To the place where someone is.
‘Dot didn't hear Mrs Parvis come creeping up behind her’
Oxford Living Dictionary
6.to or at a source, origin, center, or the like.
Collins Dictionary
8a : so as to arrive or approach
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
This is a question that's not answered so easily because we use "up" after many verbs. In some cases it changes the meaning entirely, in other cases it doesn't, and removing it would result in much the same meaning.
- I went to the man and asked him for directions.
I went up to the man and asked him for directions.
I drove to Arlington.
- I drove up to Arlington.
In certain cases there may a semantic difference, but it's only generally known from context. In other cases it may be for emphasis of some sort. For example in "driving to" vs "driving up to" the extra word may possibly emphasize effort or distance (leaving aside the cardinal directions (north/south) or uphill/downhill, or not. It's to be understood in the overall context.
The emphasis can also be on appearing without expectation or quickly, as in this example from Oxford Living Dictionaries:
‘He was talking with his client outside the courtroom when a witness rushed up and attacked his client.’
- it came up behind me
is more likely to mean something moved behind you suddenly or without notice more than would be the case from just saying:
- it came behind me
It's uses are many and subtle. I doubt I could give a very good explanation of its use and its meaning. However, in the example case you've shown, the meaning is as I explained at the beginning of my answer.
answered yesterday
ZebrafishZebrafish
10.5k31336
In this particular context it's to approach or arrive at a location.
up
adverb
1.So as to approach; near:
came up and kissed me.
American Heritage Dictionary
3To the place where someone is.
‘Dot didn't hear Mrs Parvis come creeping up behind her’
Oxford Living Dictionary
6.to or at a source, origin, center, or the like.
Collins Dictionary
8a : so as to arrive or approach
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
This is a question that's not answered so easily because we use "up" after many verbs. In some cases it changes the meaning entirely, in other cases it doesn't, and removing it would result in much the same meaning.
- I went to the man and asked him for directions.
I went up to the man and asked him for directions.
I drove to Arlington.
- I drove up to Arlington.
In certain cases there may a semantic difference, but it's only generally known from context. In other cases it may be for emphasis of some sort. For example in "driving to" vs "driving up to" the extra word may possibly emphasize effort or distance (leaving aside the cardinal directions (north/south) or uphill/downhill, or not. It's to be understood in the overall context.
The emphasis can also be on appearing without expectation or quickly, as in this example from Oxford Living Dictionaries:
‘He was talking with his client outside the courtroom when a witness rushed up and attacked his client.’
- it came up behind me
is more likely to mean something moved behind you suddenly or without notice more than would be the case from just saying:
- it came behind me
It's uses are many and subtle. I doubt I could give a very good explanation of its use and its meaning. However, in the example case you've shown, the meaning is as I explained at the beginning of my answer.
answered yesterday
ZebrafishZebrafish
10.5k31336
answered yesterday
ZebrafishZebrafish
10.5k31336
answered yesterday
ZebrafishZebrafish
10.5k31336
answered yesterday
ZebrafishZebrafish
10.5k31336
10.5k31336
add a comment |
add a comment |
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I've cancelled the down-vote with an up-vote. This is an interesting question about the English language : why use a preposition and, if so, why on earth use 'up' when other dimensions would be far more appropriate ? It is also difficult to research such questions because of the simplicity of the language and I think that leeway should be allowed in such cases.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
I down-voted because the OP had just asked the meaning of 'drive by'.
– Kate Bunting
22 hours ago