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Teleostomi Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary
"up" in "cut up"
Could you tell me what "up" in "cup up" exactly means?
Does it mean "into small pieces"?
Also "up" in "mess up," I think "up" here is quite similar to "out" (completely).
Does it mean "into small pieces"?
Also "up" in "mess up," I think "up" here is quite similar to "out" (completely).
Top answer
Cut up does mean to cut into pieces, but they are not necessarily small ones.
- Cut up does mean to cut into pieces, but they are not necessarily small ones.
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5 Answers
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Cut up does mean to cut into pieces, but they are not necessarily small ones.
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"cut up" can also have a meaning of making jokes, and seems to be used in classroom situations (American English).
He's the class cut up means he's the class joker. He's always cutting up in class means he disrupts class with his joking.
He's the class cut up means he's the class joker. He's always cutting up in class means he disrupts class with his joking.
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I didn't know this AmE use. In BrE you can say He was very cut up about his girlfriend leaving him.
In general, adding up to a verb gives an idea of completeness. If you tear a piece of paper, it means you make a tear in it. If you tear it up, you tear it into pieces. If you clean up, you clean everytihng that needs cleaning. If y
In general, adding up to a verb gives an idea of completeness. If you tear a piece of paper, it means you make a tear in it. If you tear it up, you tear it into pieces. If you clean up, you clean everytihng that needs cleaning. If y
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I see. Then I find virtually no difference between "up" and "out" in that sense (in the sense of "completely").
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