Come down/up

Question

Hi,"I'll come down to your office tomorrow."Why is "come down" used here? Why not only "come"? And when can I use "come up"? Is it that the listener of the sentence may ask like"Are you coming up to my office?"Please explain the usage of these two phrases.Thanks!

Philip · Accepted Answer

SimiHi,

"I'll come down to your office tomorrow."

Why is "come down" used here? Why not only "come"? And when can I use "come up"? Is it that the listener of the sentence may ask like

"Are you coming up to my office?"

Please explain the usage of these two phrases.

Thanks!

If you are in a high-rise office building, "up" and "down" are obvious. If the distance to be covered is horizontal, we often use "over". "Come" by itself is always correct.

Simi · Answer

Philip If you are in a high-rise office building, "up" and "down" are obvious. If the distance to be covered is horizontal, we often use "over". "Come" by itself is always correct.

Well, you're right. That's what I thought till now. But the other day I was watching FRIENDS and Ross says to Rachel on the phone, "I'm coming down to your office" and then when he does, Rachel says angrily, "You need not come up to my office".

So if it's wrong here, does that mean, the srcipt writers made a mistake or something 'cause I'm pretty sure I have caught the dialogues right.

Feebs11 · Answer

It's not wrong - it is a good example of the flexibility of informal and idiomatic English in conversation. I wouldn't use the scripts of a comedy series as test-beds of formal English. As Philip says, you can use either, or just use "come to".

Marius Hancu · Answer

Up and down are oftentimes assigned arbitrarily to the two directions on a street, etc.

IMO: When Ross uses "down," Rachel is expected to use "down" because of her opposing point of view.

Simi · Answer

Marius HancuUp and down are oftentimes assigned arbitrarily to the two directions on a street, etc.

IMO: When Ross uses "down," Rachel is expected to use "down" because of her opposing point of view.

I'm afraid I do not understand this. Could you please explain it again?

Philip · Answer

Simi
Marius HancuUp and down are oftentimes assigned arbitrarily to the two directions on a street, etc.

IMO: When Ross uses "down," Rachel is expected to use "down" because of her opposing point of view.

I'm afraid I do not understand this. Could you please explain it again?

"Up and down the street" could indicate an actual rise in elevation, or the numbers of the address. 1200 Broadway would be up the street from 900.

Come down/up

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