There seems to be one "up" too many in this sentence.

[Yankee]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #320 "English Slang Idioms (41)", question 1

"The chief put up the Chinese ......... up on me when I asked who would be in charge of interviewing the victims. He said that I didn't need to know and wouldn't say anything more on the case.

(a) food
(b) people
(c) products
(d) walls

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #320 "English Slang Idioms (41)", answer 1

"The chief put up the Chinese walls up on me when I asked who would be in charge of interviewing the victims. He said that I didn't need to know and wouldn't say anything more on the case.

Correct answer: (d) walls
_________________________

.
There seems to be one "up" too many in this sentence.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Lost_Soul]

Hi, Amy

I'm with you on this one :)

[Benjamin]

mmhmm

I'd go with removing the first "up"...i think

[Torsten]

Hi Amy, Alex and Ben,

Many thanks for your support -- we've removed the first "up" as you suggested.
Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: The lone climber

[Englishholic]

But, what does "put the Chinese walls up on someone" mean?

Thanks,

Englishholic

[Yankee]

Hi Englishholic

Does this definition of "Chinese Wall" do the trick for you?
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/chinesewall.asp
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Kati Svaby]

Hello,

"The chief put the Chinese Wall up on me..." I didn't found the meaning of this idiom, so I think this can mean that my chief rounded up on me for my asking? Am I right or not?

The Chinese Wall is mentioned here than a virtual insurmountable, impassable wall whereas it is a real physical wall.

Thanks:
Kati Svaby
_________________
Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

[Beeesneees]

Hi Kati,

A Chinese wall in the sense that it is in this question is a virtual wall, put up to stop leaks between departments of a company that might have different- and colliding - interests.
_________________
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Kati Svaby]

Hi BZ

I don't understand, please help me.

What is: put the Chinese wall up on me...?
I found:
put up a good fight
put up a stout resistance
put up an argument in these sentences put up means: offer or make

Here I would understand if there was: put up the Chinese wall on me...
You've written: put up to stop leaks...information leaks?
What doesn't mean here put up to...or put the Chinese wall up on me ?


Explain me please than you would explain to a child.
Thanks:
Kati
_________________
Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

[Beeesneees]

If you 'put up' a wall (or put a wall up), 'put up' in this sense means erect or build a wall.

Imagine a company where there are two departments. Department A is there to investigate customer complaints that are made about department A.
Department B would not want anyone from department A to be able to falsify any part of the complaints procedure.
So Department B would 'put up a Chinese wall' (figuratively, not literally). In other words, they would make sure there were procedures in place to stop anyone from department A being able to see or do anything with the complaints before the investigation was completed.

I don't know for certain, but I imagine it's called a Chinese wall because the Great Wall of China had the function of keeping enemies out.
_________________
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Kati Svaby]

Hello BZ,

Thanks for your quick answer now I would understand if there wasn't there :
on me. What is it looking for there? The chief wants to erect the Chinese Walls on me ?
Thanks.
Kati
_________________
Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

[Beeesneees]

'on me' here means the same as 'in front of me' - he used the wall to keep me out.
_________________
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Kati Svaby]

Hi BZ,

My English friend who lives here in Hungary for 50 years and she translates from English to Hungarian, novels, screenplays etc.

I asked her what is her opinion about this idiom. First she thought this will be a simple thing but not.

She told me she never met with this idiom. She told me that not the first "up" shouldn't have omitted, the sentence is comprehensible if it begins: "The Chief put up the Chinese Wall on me... and she thinks its meaning is: the chief put up on me a barrier to stop me talking.

What is your opinion?
Kati
_________________
Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

[Beeesneees]

I agree that one 'up' shouldn't be there.

It doesn't matter which one though.
Both of these work:
The chief put up the Chinese wall on me.
The chief put the Chinese wall up on me.
_________________
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Kati Svaby]

Hello Bz.

Thanks.
Kati
_________________
Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.