Word: Fold Up
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: "Fold up" means to bend or lay something so that one part covers another part, making it smaller or neater. This often happens with items like paper, clothes, or furniture.
Usage Instructions:
Simple Usage: You can use "fold up" when you want to describe the action of making something smaller by folding it.
Common Objects: You can fold up things like a newspaper, a map, a piece of clothing, or even furniture like a table or chair.
Examples:
Simple Example: "After reading the newspaper, I will fold it up and put it away."
Furniture Example: "When the party was over, we had to fold up the chairs and put them in the storage room."
Advanced Usage:
In more complex sentences, "fold up" can describe not just the physical act but also metaphorical situations, such as: - "The company decided to fold up after years of losses." - This means that the company is closing down or ceasing operations.
Word Variants:
Folded: The past tense of "fold," meaning already folded.
Folding: The present participle, used for ongoing actions.
Different Meanings:
Literal Meaning: To physically fold something, like paper or clothes.
Figurative Meaning: To stop operating or to give up on a plan or business.
Synonyms:
Collapse: Often used to describe furniture or structures.
Bend: Refers to changing the shape of something.
Close: When referring to closing something up neatly.
Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
Fold in: This can refer to mixing ingredients in cooking, like folding in whipped cream into a batter.
Fold under pressure: This idiom means to give up or surrender when faced with difficulties.
Summary:
"Fold up" is a versatile verb used to describe the action of bending one part of something over another. It can be used in everyday situations, such as folding clothes or furniture, as well as in more complex situations like businesses that are closing down.