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05 November 2014

Language question for readers - answers please!

Can any of the many readers of this blog supply us all (comments for publication) with a clear definition between the two modal verbs: "lock up" and "lock down"?

It is clearly not the same as the difference between "shut up" and "shut down"; much less "cut up" and "cut down", or even "sit up" and "sit down", which is obvious. So what is it?

I look forward to publishing the answers, and being enlightened at the same time!

2 comments:

  1. Without checking the dictionary, I'd say that to "lock up" means to encarcerate somebody, while to "lock down" means to block all access to and (especially) from a location.

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  2. Agree with the previous comment. Lock up - to close some space liked house; lock down - to close large area (quarantine like)

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