This two-letter word in English has more meanings  than  any other two-letter word, and that  word  is UP.’  It is listed in  the dictionary as an [adv],  [prep], [adj],  [n] or [v].

It’s easy to understand UP,meaning toward the sky or at the top of the  list,  but when we awaken in the morning,  why do we wake UP?

At  a  meeting, why does a topic come UP?   Why do we speakUP,   and why are the officers UPfor   election (if there is  a tie, it is a  toss  UP)   and why is it UP   to   the secretary to write UP a   report?  We call   UP our   friends, brighten UP a   room, polish  UPthe   silver, warm UP the   leftovers and clean UP the   kitchen.  We lock UP the house  and fix UP the   old car.

At  other  times, this little word has real  special  meaning.  People stir  UP  trouble,   line UP for   tickets, work UP an   appetite, and think UP  excuses.

To   be dressed is one thing but to be dressed   UP is   special.

And   this UP is   confusing:  A drain must be opened   UP  because   it is  blocked  UP.

We   open UP a   store in the morning but we close it   UP   at   night.  We seem to be pretty mixed   UP   about UP!

To   be knowledgeable about the proper uses of   UP,   look UP the   word UP  in the  dictionary.  In a desk-sized  dictionary,  it takes UP  almost 1/4  of the page and can add UP to   about thirty definitions.

If   you are UP  to   it, you might try building UP a   list of the many ways UP  is   used.  It will takeUP a   lot of your time, but if you don’t give   UP,   you may wind UP   with (UP to)  a  hundred or more.

When   it threatens to rain, we say it is  clouding  UP. When the  sun comes out, we say it is clearing   UP.   When it rains, it soaksUP  the   earth.  When it does not rain for  awhile,  things dry UP.  One  could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it   UP,   for now . . . My time is UP!

Oh  .  . . One more thing:  What is the  first  thing you do in the morning and the  last thing you  do at night?

U

P!

Did   that one crack you UP?

Don’t   screw UP..   Send this on to everyone you look  UP in   your address book . . . Or not . . . it’s   UP  to   you.
Now   I’ll shut UP!