By Hyon O’Brien
This past July 4, our cousin took us out on a boat ride around Miami’s Biscayne Bay and we got to see the splendid fireworks from the water as different towns competed to celebrate America’s independence. While we were chatting on the boat, one of the other guests who has been reading my column since last year mentioned how much she enjoyed my ``7-Up” columns.
The first 7-Up column, in 2008, exploring the many English idioms using ``up,” talked about cheer up, clean up, dress up, give up, pay up, show up and shut up. The second one in 2010 dealt with get up, loosen up, make up, pick up, speak up, tidy up, and wake up. The third one last year included build up, dig up, follow up, fix up, look up, set up and take up. My friend’s positive feedback inspired me to generate yet another in the series. Here is my fourth installment.
This means remaining cheerful even in a difficult situation. As a Pennsylvania newspaper, The Evening Democrat, advised its readers in 1900 under the heading Epigrams Upon the Health-giving Qualities of Mirth: ``Keep your chin up. Don’t take your troubles to bed with you ― hang them on a chair with your trousers or drop them in a glass of water with your teeth.” This seems like a good piece of advice even after more than 100 years.
Physically leaping to reach the area to get something or a person. Our dogs usually jump up (and down) with glee when we return after an absence, whether long or short.
Picking up something or raising spirits by showing optimism. People who are good at giving encouraging words without fail lift up the feelings and emotions of others to a delightful level. Their words are, in a word, uplifting. The other day we had a family over for dinner and the husband was most enthusiastic about our Asian-themed decor in the living room, vocally appreciating the Korean, Chinese and Tibetan antiques and Japanese style sliding doors that connect to our balcony. His remarks lifted up my spirit and I stayed elated for days afterwards.
To make an estimate of a person or situation by looking at things or people critically in a searching way. Living in Hong Kong and Korea for 14 years, I always felt uncomfortable whenever I met a new person because I was quite aware of their sizing-up stares and unvoiced opinions being formulated by looking at my clothing, handbag, shoes and face. I knew I had failed each time because I was not carrying brand name items or adorning myself with designer apparel. They were also always keen on finding out which university my husband and I attended and what kind of neighborhood we lived in. A very strange social custom that would be better off eliminated.
Amassing so as to keep for future use. People buy in bulk when prices are low. When people anticipate a hurricane, tornado, typhoon or other natural disaster, they buy lots of canned goods and other commodities. Another application of this idiom is to accumulate information and knowledge. By reading and researching we can stock up good information to share. These days, with instant answers we can obtain from our smartphones, we are somewhat relieved from memorizing facts. But one cannot stock up wisdom this way. It comes from living, learning and thinking and cultivating thoughts.
To prepare for an athletic event by exercising. When we were part of the live audience for a taped television comedy, a person did a warm-up session to get the audience to be more receptive to the show. We also use warm up to mean becoming enthusiastic or friendly. The other day two Korean families from Alabama were visiting our church so we had them over for lunch. Their two young girls quickly warmed up to us so we had a great time during their visit. I know we had more fun because of their wonderful ability to warm up to new people and a new situation. New ideas in the areas of science and technology as well as all bodies of knowledge and political policies require a certain period of time for people to warm up to them. Gifted people know how to shorten the warm up time.
To close a zipper, literally, or in the case of one’s mouth, figuratively. I wish I had zipped up my mouth more often when we were raising our daughters. I am sure there were times when my words despite their good intentions didn’t help build up their self-esteem. In every relationship, if we learn to zip up our mouths wisely, we may avoid hurtful situations. We will do well to heed the instruction of Psalm 141:3: ``Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Until next time, try to keep your chin up!
Hyon O'Brien is a former reference librarian now living in the United States. She can be reached at hyonobrien@gmail.com.