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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

all up

English answer:

near the end

Added to glossary by Andy Hoang
Jan 12 00:11
4 mos ago
50 viewers *
English term

all up

English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings Dictionary of Idioms, Proverbs, and Sayings
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!
Responses
4 +3 near the end
References
refs.
Change log

Jan 14, 2024 11:42: Andy Hoang Created KOG entry

Responses

+3
6 mins
Selected

near the end

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:

by night it was <b>all up</b> for the trapped miners

Reference:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20up#:~:text=%3A%20at%20or%20very%20near%20an,up%20for%20the%20trapped%20miners

Note from asker:
Thank you for the explanation and reference. In Merriam-Webster I trust. :-)
Peer comment(s):
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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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you."

Reference comments

9 hrs
Reference:

refs.



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
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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
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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... )
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