 | 'Up' often has a meaning of continuing or completing something
Keep something up: Continue without stopping or changing
Janet said to Tim 'It's important to keep your spirits up'.
You're doing very well. Keep up the good work.
Tidy something up: Make a place clean and ordered, especially by putting things back where they usually belong
Her mum said 'Go and tidy up your bedroom. It's a mess!'
I need to tidy up the kitchen before I start making the dinner.
'Up' can also have a meaning of starting something or arranging something
Show up: Arrive, especially late or unexpectedly, in order to join a group of people
I waited for them for half an hour but they never showed up.
I hadn't seen him for years and then he suddenly showed up at my house.
Open up something: Start a new business
Tim would love to open up a little shop.
They're opening up a new restaurant in town. Do you want to try it?
Take up something: Start doing something (a hobby, sport or activity)
They took up golf after they retired.
He took up stamp collecting only a few months ago and already has more than 400 stamps.
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| 'Down' often has a meaning of getting less
Slow down: Go more slowly
Slow down! You're driving too fast!
Now that you've retired you need to slow down and relax a bit more.
Calm down: Become calmer or make someone calmer
Don't panic. There's still time to buy her a present. Calm down!
I know I need to calm down about it but it's difficult not to get angry when he blasts out his loud music every morning.
Cut down on something: Do less of something (for example, eating, drinking)
She's trying to cut down on cigarettes. She used to smoke 20 a day and now she only smokes four.
The doctor says I need to cut down on the amount of coffee I drink.
Turn something down: Make the power (volume or heat, for example) less
Turn that music down. It's too loud.
It's so hot in here. Would you mind turning down the heating please?
Turn something or someone down: Reject someone or something
They turned me down for the job. I was really disappointed not to get it.
He asked her to marry him but she turned him down. She said she didn't really love him.
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| keeping yourself busy
making the time pass by doing something (not necessarily paid work)
to get motivated
to be enthusiastic about something (here, about the possibility that Tim will get a job soon)
to keep your spirits up
to feel happy or positive
I've always seen myself as
I've imagined myself as, I imagine that I am
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