Meaning & use
go up and down
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Meanings
phraseidiom
to move repeatedly upward and downward, or to rise and fall again and again.
Grammar: Used without an object; the subject is the thing that moves: The boat went up and down.
Patterns
- something goes up and down
- go up and down in something
The little boat went up and down on the waves all afternoon.
Prices have been going up and down all year, so it's hard to plan.
I watched the elevator go up and down, but it never stopped at my floor.
phraseidiom
to move back and forth along the same route, especially many times.
Grammar: Often followed by a place phrase: go up and down the street.
Patterns
- go up and down something
He went up and down the hallway looking for his keys.
The children went up and down the stairs until their mother told them to stop.
Common combinations
- go up and down the stairs
- She went up and down the stairs carrying boxes.
- go up and down on the waves
- The raft went up and down on the waves.
- prices go up and down
- Gas prices go up and down every few weeks.
- go up and down in value
- The house has gone up and down in value since we bought it.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rise and fall
- More formal and often used for numbers or levels; 'go up and down' is more physical and everyday.
- fluctuate
- A technical word for changing repeatedly; use it for prices or measurements, not for a boat.
Commonly confused: go up and down or ups and downs?
go up and down vs ups and downs
This noun phrase means good and bad experiences in life, not physical movement.
Practice
The path ___ and down the hill was steep.
Choose one answer.
The subject 'path' is singular, so the verb needs -s: 'goes up and down'. 'Go up' would be correct with a plural subject like 'paths'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “go up and down”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.