Meaning & use
up down
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Moving or looking first upward and then downward, often in a repeated way.
Grammar: Used after a verb like move, look, or jump to show a two-way direction.
Patterns
- move up down
- look up down
- jump up down
The little boy jumped up down on the bed until his mother told him to stop.
She looked up down the shelf, searching for the missing book.
The bird flew up down over the garden, as if it could not decide where to land.
Common combinations
- up and down
- He walked up and down the corridor while waiting for the doctor.
- bob up and down
- The small boat bobbed up and down on the waves.
- pace up and down
- She paced up and down outside the interview room.
Synonyms and how they differ
- up and down
- The usual fixed phrase; 'up down' without 'and' sounds incomplete in most contexts.
- to and fro
- Suggests movement back and forth in a flat line, not necessarily upward and downward.
Commonly confused: up down or upside down?
up down vs upside down
Means turned so the top is at the bottom; 'up down' describes a direction of movement, not a position.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase naturally?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 shows repeated upward and downward movement, which fits the phrase. Option 0 describes a static position, option 2 describes a single placement, and option 3 is not a natural use of the phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “up down”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.