sit up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (intransitive):
- To move from a lying or reclining position to a seated position with the back straight.
- To remain awake and out of bed later than the usual time, especially for a specific purpose.
Usage and Examples
- Verb (intransitive):
- When the alarm rang, she sat up quickly. (She moved from lying down to sitting.)
- The patient is now strong enough to sit up in a chair. (The patient can move to an upright seated position.)
- We sat up all night talking. (We stayed awake and did not go to bed all night.)
- I had to sit up late to finish my report. (I had to stay awake working until late.)
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "Sit up and take notice": To suddenly start paying close attention because something is surprising or important.
- The company's innovative product made the whole industry sit up and take notice.
- The phrase often implies a deliberate action, either physical (changing posture) or mental (choosing to stay awake).
Variants and Related Words
- Sit-up (noun): A physical exercise in which a person lies on their back and rises to a sitting position.
- She does fifty sit-ups every morning.
- Stay up: A near synonym for the "remain awake" meaning.
- The children were allowed to stay up to see the fireworks.
Synonyms
- For "change position": Rise, straighten up.
- For "not go to bed": Stay up, keep vigil, burn the midnight oil.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Sit up for (someone): To stay awake waiting for someone to arrive.
- My mother always sits up for me when I come home late.
- Sit up with (someone): To stay awake at night to care for or keep company with someone.
- He sat up with his sick child all night.
Related Idioms
- Make someone sit up: To surprise or impress someone greatly, causing them to pay attention.
- His shocking revelation really made the committee sit up.
Verb
- change to an upright sitting position
- He sat up in bed
- not go to bed
- Don't stay up so late--you have to go to work tomorrow
- We sat up all night to watch the election