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#2 (permalink) Fri Mar 24, 2006 22:11 pm To be or not to be |
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I will be there = I will be in/at that place (wherever that is).
I will be up there = I will be in/at that place (a higher point or farther along: upstairs, up the street, on the mountain, in the sky, in heaven, etc.).
I'm gonna be up front = I will be at the front/at the head.
I'm gonna be right there? = I will be just at/in that place (wherever that is).
Here is a little illustration (I hope!):
Juliet (on her balcony): ‘Romeo, are you there?
Romeo (in the garden): ‘Yes, my love, I am down here. Well, I am up front by the garden wall, really, but I will be up there in a minute’.
Juliet: ‘No, no, you must go. The lark is singing already. It is dangerous for you here. Goodbye, sweet Romeo.
Romeo: Goodbye, my darling. I’ll be right there when you need me. I promise by the moon. All you have to do is call.
Somehow ‘up front’ doesn’t fit here... :) , maybe it's too colloquial. |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#3 (permalink) Fri Mar 24, 2006 22:30 pm To be there and to be up there |
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I agree with what Conchita says, but there is one thing that needs to be clarified or added.
| Simon wrote: |
1. I'm gonna be up front.
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This can mean that you will be physically near the front of something -- a theater, a car, a bus, a concert hall, wherever.
However, just as often "up front" means direct and truthful. So, for example, a doctor who has to tell a patient that he has cancer might say, "I'm going to be up front about your condition." It means, "I'm going to tell you the direct, full truth. I will not sugar coat things. I will not mince words." |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6552 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#4 (permalink) Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:59 am To be there and to be up there |
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| Everything's clear and obvious now, thanks a lot. |
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Simon I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 22 Location: Poland
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| Hey Lawdy Mama | Citizens & Citizenry |