What is the meaning of "building on" in this sentence?

Question

The peppercorn is building on me.

Teechr · Accepted Answer

Where did you find that sentence?

Saraba · Answer

Hi, it is in this video.

Saraba · Answer

around 5'50

CalifJim · Answer

sarabaWhat is the meaning of "building on" in this sentence?

In my opinion, the speaker just made up a new expression. I've never heard "building on" used in that way. In fact, it's really just "building" with "on me" as the second part. From context, however, I think we all understand that he means that the peppercorn is becoming more and more intense and unpleasant for him.

It's the intensity of feeling produced by the peppercorn that is "building", i.e., increasing — not the peppercorn itself. "on me" is sometimes analyzed as "a dative of interest", meaning that "me" is the person affected by the situation.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

saraba The peppercorn is building on me.

I'm fed up with/sick and tired of the peppercorn.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous saraba The peppercorn is building on me.I'm fed up with/sick and tired of the peppercorn.

Hmm. How did you arrive at that interpretation?

(Have you watched the video, by the way?)

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

It seems to be stronger than that. CJ's idea seems more likely to me.

GPY · Answer

I'm pretty sure I've heard this expression before, the meaning as explained by CalifJim.

A quick Google search throws up one other example:

"the habenero started building on me"

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/18ubph/anyone_have_a_simple_sauce_for_dipping_sweet/

Saraba · Answer

Thank you very much everybody.

What is the meaning of "building on" in this sentence?

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