Wangqh2696122 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Called me over or called me up?
When I was in middle school, I was one of the smaller players on the basketball team. In our first game of the season, we were scheduled to face a real good team, boasting a bunch of big guys. Naturally, at my size, it would have been easy to be intimidated by our opponents.
On game day, I was walking through the school hallways in between classes, when my basketball coach called me __________ to where he was standing in front of several of my friends. He was a big, strong, tough coach, and in his usual gruff manner, he said, “Joel, you’re not that tall, but let me tell you, size doesn’t matter. What counts is right down in here.” He pointed his finger at his chest as he continued. “Joel, you’ve got a big heart, and you’re going to do great this year.”
Which can be used to fill the blank?
A. up B. over C. both A and B
The suggested answer is over.
Any differences?
On game day, I was walking through the school hallways in between classes, when my basketball coach called me __________ to where he was standing in front of several of my friends. He was a big, strong, tough coach, and in his usual gruff manner, he said, “Joel, you’re not that tall, but let me tell you, size doesn’t matter. What counts is right down in here.” He pointed his finger at his chest as he continued. “Joel, you’ve got a big heart, and you’re going to do great this year.”
Which can be used to fill the blank?
A. up B. over C. both A and B
The suggested answer is over.
Any differences?
Top answer
"Called me over" is natural and common. "Called me up" is generally used for the telephone. ) "Up" would be particularly bizarre when you're all in the same level area (hallway).
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"Called me over" is natural and common. "Called me up" is generally used for the telephone. (I believe both are idioms, with specific meanings.)
"Up" would be particularly bizarre when you're all in the same level area (hallway).
If he were up on the balcony, and you were down below, you'd probably say, "He called me up to the balcony," not "he called me up."
"Up" would be particularly bizarre when you're all in the same level area (hallway).
If he were up on the balcony, and you were down below, you'd probably say, "He called me up to the balcony," not "he called me up."
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I see.Thank you!!! 0
When an expression is "a fixed idiom" with a fixed meaning, it takes a certain amount of special context to make it possible to use it in a different way, even though the usage may be perfectly logical.
"He called me over" generally means "he requested me to come to where he was."
"My neighbor called me over." Perhaps we were both out in the yard, or perhaps he called me on the telephone
"He called me over" generally means "he requested me to come to where he was."
"My neighbor called me over." Perhaps we were both out in the yard, or perhaps he called me on the telephone
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But according to the dictionary, up means moving near to sb/sth and then stopping. The dictionary also provides some examples:
One of the sales people came up and asked if she could help.
Two women ran up to us, shouting in Spanish.
Just go up to him and say hello.
Personally, up here is very similarly to over. What do you think?
One of the sales people came up and asked if she could help.
Two women ran up to us, shouting in Spanish.
Just go up to him and say hello.
Personally, up here is very similarly to over. What do you think?
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What you're saying is 100% correct.
But this happens to be a study in the nature of idioms. Idioms can't be understood by reading the dictionary definitions of the words which make them up. You have to learn the meaning of each idiom.
"He called me over" is an idiom.
"He called me up" is an idiom.
"He beckoned me to come up closer." (not an idiom)
I suppose
But this happens to be a study in the nature of idioms. Idioms can't be understood by reading the dictionary definitions of the words which make them up. You have to learn the meaning of each idiom.
"He called me over" is an idiom.
"He called me up" is an idiom.
"He beckoned me to come up closer." (not an idiom)
I suppose
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"He called me up" can be used when a number of people are waiting to participate in something. Perhaps you're called to go up on the stage and receive an award.
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