to open up
64
2.5
- phrasal verb
- /ˈoʊpən ʌp/
:
abrir
- Please open up the box carefully to see the gift inside.
- open up the door
- open up the window
- open up your mouth
So let's just open her up and take a closer look.
- So let's just open her up and take a closer look.
- All you're going to do is slide the sleeve off, open up your box.
- So let's go and open up this rather exciting box.
- That old man came out and opened up that cage.
- And he sets the autopilot, opens up the passenger door and jumps out.
- That gift opens up and provides the soil.
- If I could figure out how to open these puppies up, they just.
Examples
-
All right, I'll open her up.
-
Let's just open this bad boy up and have a look.
-
The current Administration has opened the collection up to more groups than were originally considered.
Blog text (23) -
So let's go and open up this rather exciting box.
-
So you open that up and it's lined in red.
-
But yeah, let's open up these packages.
-
As for human resources, NPM opened up the public sector job market to the private sector.
Academic text (2017) -
So now let's open this up and see what we've got.
-
Once you have the file unzipped, go back to Photoshop and open up the third image.
Blog text (21) -
The gorge of the pass opened up into Redbud Creek Canyon; we took a left turn and started down again.
Fiction book (1991)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To make something not closed so you can get in
67
4.2
To make an opening in a wall or barrier
39
1.3
Open something that is folded so it becomes flat
20
4.3
To open something by breaking or removing a seal
13
2.1
To open something suddenly by force, for example a locked door or jar
7
3.2
Open something by lifting or releasing a small catch that holds it closed
4
3.0
To move apart by itself suddenly because of surprise or gravity
Antonyms
How Open
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to make something open or become open' is directly and predictably derived from 'open' (to remove closure) combined with the particle 'up', which here adds a completive/intensive sense. This verb+particle composition is a regular, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would reliably infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Open up comes from the simple action of making something closed become open, like turning a key or pulling a cover up. That's why it means 'to make something open' or to remove a barrier.