expand up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expand up" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate an increase or growth in a vertical direction, but it is generally better to use more standard expressions. Example: "We need to expand up to accommodate more equipment in the facility."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"We believe that the combination of growth and diversification will let its P/E expand up toward its competitors".

The New York Times

Foie gras is made by force-feeding geese and ducks so their livers expand up to 10 times their normal size.

The New York Times

There is an argument to be made for these works as latter-day, text-free manuscript illuminations that expand up close, especially as you begin to fathom the careful layering (and taping) that goes into each composition.

The New York Times - Arts

Public-Private Capital: This new program will be designed with a public-private financing component, which could involve putting public or private capital side-by-side and using public financing to leverage private capital on an initial scale of up to $500 billion, with the potential to expand up to $1 trillion.

The New Yorker

The warm rapport shown between President Bush and the Russian president, just one day after Mr. Bush declared that he wanted NATO to expand up to Russia's border, represented a significant achievement for the Americans, a senior official who helped plan the Bush trip said today.

The New York Times

On a visit to Egypt - in part to demonstrate that his is not internationally isolated - Putin regurgitated his familiar grievances about the west trying to encircle and crush Russia, and Nato breaking its promise not to expand up to the country's borders.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Giant Robot has since expanded up and down the street like a real estate Godzilla.

The New York Times - Travel

This rack expands up to 18 inches, then folds neatly away.

The New York Times

Families built small shacks using found materials and the neighbourhood expanded up into the hills.

The Guardian

The ZX2 comes with 128GB of memory, which can be expanded up to 256GB with a memory card.

Independent

It takes memory cards, rather than having a built-in hard drive, but they can be expanded up to 129GB.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "expand up", ensure the context clearly implies vertical growth or scaling, like "The business aims to expand up the corporate ladder."

Common error

Do not use "expand up" when simply "expand" will suffice; the "up" should only be included when emphasizing a vertical direction or hierarchical progression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expand up" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating an increase in size, scope, or extent, often with an emphasis on vertical progression or scaling. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in various contexts, from business to technology.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "expand up" functions as a phrasal verb, commonly employed to describe growth, increase, or scaling, frequently with an emphasis on a vertical direction or progression. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts. While considered acceptable, alternatives like "scale up", "increase", or simply "expand" might be more appropriate depending on the specific context. Therefore, according to Ludwig AI, ensure the inclusion of the word "up" is used when emphasizing a vertical direction or hierarchical progression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scale up

This alternative implies increasing the size or scope of something proportionally.

increase

This alternative is a more general term for growth or enlargement, lacking the directional implication of "up".

grow

This alternative is a more general term for gradual increase in size or quantity.

enlarge

This alternative suggests making something bigger, without necessarily implying upward direction.

extend

This alternative indicates lengthening or stretching something, which may or may not involve vertical growth.

develop

This alternative suggests a process of growth or advancement, often more abstract than physical expansion.

broaden

This alternative implies widening the scope or range, rather than necessarily increasing size.

amplify

This alternative suggests increasing the intensity or effect of something, rather than its physical size.

augment

This alternative implies adding to something to increase its size or value.

swell

This alternative suggests an increase in size, often due to internal pressure.

FAQs

What does "expand up" mean?

The phrase "expand up" generally means to increase in size, scope, or extent, often with an emphasis on vertical growth or scaling. For example, it can refer to the growth of a company or the increase in memory capacity of a device.

Is "expand up" grammatically correct?

While not always the most elegant phrasing, "expand up" is commonly used and generally understood. However, consider alternatives like "scale up" or simply "expand" depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "expand up"?

You can use alternatives like "grow", "increase", or "scale up". The best choice depends on the specific context and intended meaning.

When should I use "expand up" instead of just "expand"?

Use "expand up" when you want to emphasize an upward direction, vertical growth, or scaling, or you may simply use "expand". For instance, "The company plans to expand its operations" versus "The company plans to expand up into new markets."