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PamQueue Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Run (Up) A Tab

I am confused about "run a tab" and "run up a tab". Anybody help me?
  

Top answer

"Run a tab" is the normal statement, as in, "Can I run a tab here? )". " Adding the word "up" turns the statement negative.

— Anonymous

  • "Run a tab" is the normal statement, as in, "Can I run a tab here?
  • )".
  • " Adding the word "up" turns the statement negative.
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4 Answers
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"Run a tab" is the normal statement, as in, "Can I run a tab here? (Can you just add up all my costs and bill me later?)". "Run up a tab" has negative connotations, as in, "He's run up a tab here and has never paid anything on it." Adding the word "up" turns the statement negative.
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I should have added this in the first post. But I also heard of,

"The government is running a deficit."

"The government is running up a deficit."

Could it be that "running up a deficit" is viewed less favorably than "running a deficit"?
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Yes, adding the word "up" increases the negativity of the statement.
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I should have added this in the first post. But I also heard of,

"The government is running a deficit."

"The government is running up a deficit."

Could it be that "running up a deficit" is viewed less favorably than "running a deficit"?
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