open up
English
[edit]Verb
[edit]open up (third-person singular simple present opens up, present participle opening up, simple past and past participle opened up)
- (intransitive, transitive) To open.
- Some vacancies have opened up due to retirements.
- Open up the door!
- The executive pay gap is opening up again.
- 2011 February 1, Phil McNulty, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Everton”, in BBC[1]:
- Wilshire then opened up Everton's defence, but Van Persie lifted his finish over the onrushing Howard and also over the bar.
- (intransitive) To widen.
- The corridor gradually opened up into a triangular room.
- (intransitive) To reveal oneself; to share personal information about oneself; to become communicative.
- After three hours of questioning, he finally opened up.
- (intransitive) To commence firing weapons.
- As the convoy entered the pass, we opened up on them with everything we had.
- (intransitive, figuratively, of the sky) To rain.
- The sky has really opened up. I've never seen this much rain!
- (intransitive) To begin running, driving, travelling, etc., at maximum speed.
- 1934, Henry G. Lamond, An Aviary on the Plains, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 211:
- The pigeon is moving as before with unhurried haste. [...] But it must be all out. If it wasn't, then it would open up and get away from that shadow of death behind it.
- (intransitive, theater) Synonym of cheat out (“to face or turn toward the audience more than would be natural”)
- 2015, Robert Barton, Acting: Onstage and Off, page 184:
- In stage acting, we are frequently asked to cheat out to the audience by opening up our body positions so that we are something halfway between facing them and our partner.
- (intransitive, oenology) Of wine: to develop its full flavor a short time after being uncorked and poured.
Derived terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]to open
to commence firing weapons
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