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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary

bend over/down

Hi,

bend over

"He bent over to pick up the pen."




bend down

"I bent down to lift the box off the floor."


What is the difference between 'bend over' and 'bend down' in the sentences ?


Than you very much.
  

Top answer

Not much difference. When I hear "bend over" I picture the person's backside sticking out as they bend at the waist. While bend down can mean he same, you can bend down by bending at your knees as well - bend over can't mean that.

— BarbaraPA

  • Not much difference.
  • When I hear "bend over" I picture the person's backside sticking out as they bend at the waist.
  • While bend down can mean he same, you can bend down by bending at your knees as well - bend over can't mean that.
  • Someone in a short skirt might bend down to pick up a dropped pencil, but should NOT bend over from the waist, or she might reveal more than she wishes.
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7 Answers
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Not much difference. When I hear "bend over" I picture the person's backside sticking out as they bend at the waist. While bend down can mean he same, you can bend down by bending at your knees as well - bend over can't mean that.

Someone in a short skirt might bend down to pick up a dropped pencil, but should NOT bend over from the waist, or she might reveal more than she wishes.
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Hi,

Thank you very much for your explanation, Grammar Geek.
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Anonymous
Hi,

Thank you very much for your explanation, Grammar Geek.
GG's explanation is just about what I would have offered, but hers is much more vivid than mine would have been.
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Well, as soon as I saw the name of the topic, I was ready to bet I'd see someone talking about short skirts or something like that
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Grammar GeekNot much difference. When I hear "bend over" I picture the person's backside sticking out as they bend at the waist. While bend down can mean he same, you can bend down by bending at your knees as well - bend over can't mean that.

Someone in a short skirt might bend down to pick up a dropped pencil, but should NOT bend over from the waist, or she migh
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By the way, the same would apply to a man in a kilt Emotion: wink
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Personally, I view it as a matter of personal choice. I would not place any restrictions on the manner of pencil retrieval (except perhaps where kilts were involved).

MrP
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