Why's not possible to have someone 'strolling up and down the corridor'?

[Alessandro]

Synonym Search, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #110 "Synonyms for wander", question 5

You'd better get back to work instead of ......... nervously up and down the corridors.

(a) pacing
(b) ranging
(c) strolling
(d) stalking

Synonym Search, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #110 "Synonyms for wander", answer 5

You'd better get back to work instead of pacing nervously up and down the corridors.

Correct answer: (a) pacing

Your answer was: incorrect
You'd better get back to work instead of strolling nervously up and down the corridors.
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Why's not possible to have someone "strolling up and down the corridor"? I mean, you can "stroll along the sea" (up and down the seaside...).

Does "pace" imply a movement of the legs (as in stride, but slower)?

Alessandro

[Yankee]

Hi Alessandro

The big hints in the sentence are the words 'nervously' and 'up and down'.

The verb 'pace' means 'to walk with in one direction and back again, usually because you are anxious, nervous or worried about something'.

The verb 'stroll', on the other hand, usually means 'walk in a relaxed fashion'. It suggests a pleasant situation and a positive frame of mind.
.
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