I am “fed UP”. What does that exactly mean? For me, it does not mean that I have eaten so much food that I am no longer hungry.
Just to clarify, I’m really not “fed UP” about anything in particular, possibly other than the ever-increasing price of gasoline. I received an email from a friend titled “An Amazing English Two Letter Word”. The message reflected that the word “up” in the English language has more meanings than any other two letter word, and can function as five of the eight parts of speech we spent so much time learning in school.
In school I was great at grammar. I should be—out of my twelve years of public schooling from grades 1-12, “English” instruction was centered on proper grammar usage at least from second grade (beginning with nouns) and ending for the most part in tenth grade with analysis and identification of nouns clauses, subordinate clauses, etc. A part of speech was added to the instruction each year until the full repertoire of the eight parts of speech had been taught many times over.
When I entered the second semester of high school, a composition class was started for seniors who intended to attend college. This was my introduction to instruction in formal composition. All that grammar that had been taught for so many years ad nauseum could now be put to use. I must note that being able to speak proper English does not automatically mean that a person can write an effective term paper for a passing grade.
Writing in proper English is expected, even taken for granted in the educated society in which we live (except in texting, if you KWIM). Speaking is another consideration entirely. While standard English is demanded in formal writing, choice of words in speaking is “up to the speaker”, but success of the selected usage is hugely “up” to the audience, be it an audience of one or one thousand.
Take, for example, an individual “up” for election. I hope our candidates are “up” to the task. Most of our Union County officials will be “up for reelection” this coming August. Should a candidate be seeking the vote of a schoolteacher, proper English would most likely be the preferred form of communication. With an elderly hardworking farmer in the midst of plowing his field, highly formal English might be offensive and seem “highfalutin”. It might greatly add to the farmer’s irritation at being interrupted from his work to hear someone who through the usage of highly standard English makes the farmer feel inadequate about his own speech. Some of the farmer’s reactions to and imitations of such flagrant usage of proper English might “crack us up” could we hear it.
I have found that in many instances usage of the word “up” is quite unnecessary. To illustrate, I am going to close this article with a story. I don’t expect that it will be much of a tale, and I hope that doesn’t “get you down”. The word “up” will appear numerous times. Try reading it twice, first with the “up’s”, then reread and leave out the word “up” and see if there is a different meaning to the tale with or without the “up’s”.

UP Again’ It

“Wake UP, little Ronnie,” my dad said. “It’s time to hit the floor.”
Ronnie reached a hand from under the covers and literally “hit” the floor. His dad chuckled. This was an old game with them, but Ronnie knew that he’d better rise UP from that bed, for even though his dad chuckled, Ronnie knew he meant business, and lingering would be hazardous to his backside’s health.
Even at the ripe age of 56, Ronnie still despised rising UP in the morning. He was not a morning person, and of all things he despised most was having to speak to another human before his morning coffee and shower. The only creature he wanted to talk to at that hour was his beloved cat, Precious Kitty. At least he could speak UP to her as he chose--she never talked back, unlike people. He could hardly force himself to even call UP or respond in any other way to anyone who left a message on his phone in the late evening or during sleeping hours before he was dressed UP and at work.
Once at work, Ronnie seemed to brighten UP, even if the weather clouded UP, though he was never more cheerful than when cloudy skies cleared UP. He always locked UP his computer before shutting UP his office door at the end of the day. Beginning the day required reversal of these tasks. Like the guy on the old commercial who had to make the donuts every single day, Ronnie was required to undo the last tasks of the previous afternoon or evening before he could start the new day. Then he could open UP his computer, complete his sign-in, and look UP the obituaries online.
Ronnie was a creature of habit, and he rarely needed to polish UP his daily agenda. A most important part included opening UP his office, warming UP his coffee and cleaning UP his desk from the previous day. There was rarely a day that Ronnie didn’t consider his need to fix UP his office, as he tended to be a clutterbug. “Oh, well, ‘round hear they don’t write me UP for not having the cleanest office.” Someday he knew he would stir himself UP and line UP things in order, probably for the next occupant, if nothing else.
Once the morning routine was put UP, Ronnie would work UP his specific daily tasks. He didn’t have to think UP anything to do—there were always things that needed to be done. Occasionally he would get mixed UP and screw UP some minor detail, but thank the good Lord there had never been any drastic mistakes made that could not be cleared UP with little trouble.
So, with the preliminaries of the day finished UP, Ronnie could get down to the business of the work day. He would wind UP his nerve, and, as the late great James G. Shumate used to say, “Rar’ yer ears back and jump in with both feet.” His day usually involved looking UP information and writing UP some form of documentation to request/justify expenditure of federal funds for the school system. Some of the minor aspects of the job took UP more time than Ronnie would have liked. Sometimes he had to give UP time for things that sometimes seemed more important. Sometimes some projects soaked UP more time than others. It seemed one report would be wrapped UP, just in time to meet one deadline just as another timetable opened UP. Nevertheless, Ronnie was generally good at ensuring that each required grant or report was closed UP and all required adjustments made before its due date. This was, Ronnie realized, a most important aspect of building UP a good relationship for the school district with the state department of education.
One thing Ronnie learned with age was that a person could become overcommitted. When the world stopped UP for the pandemic, Ronnie experienced a pleasurable drying UP of his stress level as many responsibilities were temporarily removed. He learned that, as the old Doan’s Pill commercial used to say, that “overexertion and everyday stress and strain” can build UP more than back pain.
There are those who would probably think that they would dry UP on the vine and die if they had Ronnie’s job. Ronnie himself would be the first to admit that the tasks were sometimes mundane and endless—as a whole they never seemed to wrap UP; however, routine is desirable for those who are creatures of habit.
Every day seemed to wind UP the same way. Ronnie was not amiss to staying late after the workday finished UP to conclude an important task. He found it important to complete everything before time was UP.

For now, Dear Reader, my time is UP. Please read again next time and see what I come UP with. Hopefully it will be UP to your expectations and liking. Until then, I leave you with some thoughts from my email world.

You know you are getting old
when everything either dries UP or leaks.

I stayed UP all night to see where the sun went,
and then it dawned on me.

People born between 1930 and 1946
saw cars up on blocks because tires weren't available.

Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

Some people are like clouds,
once they disappear it's a beautiful day.

If you can't think of a word, say "I forgot the English word for it."
That way people will think you're bilingual instead of an idiot.

Having plans sounds like a good idea
until you have to put on clothes and leave the house.