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all up

English translation: near the end

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:all up
Selected answer:near the end
Entered by: Andy Hoang

00:11 Jan 12, 2024
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Dictionary of Idioms, Proverbs, and Sayings
English term or phrase: all up
This is a semantics-related question:

Can "all up" be used to mean "near death"? According to The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms, it can. However, ChatGPT gave me this feedback: " It seems the phrase "all up" with the meaning "near death" might be more context-specific or regionally used. If it's from a specific source or dialect, it may not be widely recognized." As a result, it did not produce an example sentence, as requested.

If the alluded meaning is acceptable, can you please provide an example sentence? Thanks!
Oliver Simões
United States
Local time: 09:52
near the end
Explanation:
As noted in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, this phrase does indeed have a historical usage meaning "at or very near an end," particularly in the context of death, defeat, or failure. Its usage dates back to 1789 and is often used predicatively or in impersonal constructions.
Selected response from:

Andy Hoang
Vietnam
Local time: 23:52
Grading comment
Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3near the end
Andy Hoang
Summary of reference entries provided
refs.
Michael Beijer

  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
near the end


Explanation:
As noted in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, this phrase does indeed have a historical usage meaning "at or very near an end," particularly in the context of death, defeat, or failure. Its usage dates back to 1789 and is often used predicatively or in impersonal constructions.


Example sentence(s):
  • by night it was <b>all up</b> for the trapped miners

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20up#:~:text=%3A%20at%20or%20very%20near%20an,up%20for%20the%20trapped%20miners
Andy Hoang
Vietnam
Local time: 23:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in VietnameseVietnamese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for the explanation and reference. In Merriam-Webster I trust. :-)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sara Mahran
1 hr
agree  Robert Farren: Agree. I would add that the expression has a strong connotation of hopelessness and doom. It suggests that there is no more chance of a happy outcome. You wouldn't say it to mean just "at or near an end" in a neutral sense,
9 hrs
agree  philgoddard: When I Googled this, the first hit was your Webster's reference. I'd rather rely on it than a confusing answer by CheatGPT.
16 hrs
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Reference comments


9 hrs
Reference: refs.

Reference information:


OED:

II.12.e.
1825–
all up, completely done or finished; quite over. Also all U P. (See also U n.1 Initialisms 1.)

1825
That's all up now.
C. M. Westmacott, English Spy vol. I. 322Citation details for C. M. Westmacott, English Spy
1854
Now corrupted into the simpler saw, ‘It's all U P—up!’
J. W. Warter, Last of Old Squires ixCitation details for J. W. Warter, Last of Old Squires
1860
Consequently, when you drop into a run, he goes as long as he can, and it's all U P!
G. J. Whyte-Melville, Market Harborough 94Citation details for G. J. Whyte-Melville, Market Harborough
Show fewer quotations

src: Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “'all up' in up (adv.2), sense II.12.e,” November 2023, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/8507136979.

II.12.f.
1829–
Const. with, in previous sense.

1829
When time was called, it was ‘all up’ with Bob, and Jem was declared the winner.
P. Egan, Boxiana New Series vol. II. 243Citation details for P. Egan, Boxiana
1832
It is all up with him by this time.
B. Disraeli, Contarini Fleming vol. II. ii. vii. 78Citation details for B. Disraeli, Contarini Fleming
1837
It appears now to be ‘all up’ with coast gunning.
P. Hawker, Diary (1893) vol. II. 121Citation details for P. Hawker, Diary
1854
Crikey! they're past! and its U. P. with old Pug!
R. S. Surtees, Handley Cross (new edition) xxxvi. 282Citation details for R. S. Surtees, Handley Cross
1888
It was all but up with me.
J. McCarthy & R. C. Praed, Ladies' Gallery vol. I. ix. 221Citation details for J. McCarthy & R. C. Praed, Ladies' Gallery
Show fewer quotations

src: Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “up (adv.2), sense II.12.f,” November 2023, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/9521884374.

(https://www.oed.com/dictionary/up_adv2?tab=meaning_and_use#1... )

Michael Beijer
United Kingdom
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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