Let’s talk now about some slightly more metaphorical meanings of ‘up’ and ‘down’.

Write down

Meaning: to write something on paper

Down = moving or placing onto something lower

Transitive and separable

• I wrote down her telephone number.
• Could you write down the things we need to buy?

Bring up

Meaning 1: to take care of a child until he or she becomes an adult

Up = completely

• I was brought up by my mother and father.
• She was brought up in Colombia.

Meaning 2: start talking about

Up = starting

Transitive and separable

• Why did you bring up that subject now? I don’t want to talk about it.
• She has difficulty with money but she never brings it up.

Grow up

Meaning: (of a person) to change from a child to an adult

Up = completely

• The children are growing up quickly.
• Where did you grow up?

Pick up

Meaning 1: to go somewhere and collect somebody or something (opposite of ‘drop off’)

Transitive and separable

• I’ll come and pick you up from the airport.
• Could you please pick Lucy up later?

Meaning 2: to lift something from a lower place (opposite of ‘put down’)

Transitive and separable

Up = moving upwards

• Please could you pick your toys up? They’re all over the floor.

Wake up

Meaning: stop sleeping / make someone else stop sleeping

Intransitive / transitive and separable

• I usually wake up around 6am but I like to stay in bed and listen to music for a while.
• Shhh! You’ll wake the baby up!