open up

open up

1. Lit. open your door; open your mouth. (Usually Open up!) •

I want in. Open up!

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Open up! This is the police.

2. Fig. to become available. •

A new job is opening up at my office.

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Let me know if any other opportunities open up.

3. Fig. to go as fast as possible. (As in opening up the throttle.) •

I can't get this car to open up. Must be something wrong with the engine.

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Faster, Tom! Open up! Let's go!

4. to become clear, uncluttered, or open. •

As we drove along, the forest opened up, and we entered into a grassy plain.

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The sky opened up, and the sun shone.

* * *

{v.} 1. To show for the first time; make clear; reveal. * /The story of Helen Keller's life opened up a whole new world to Mary./ * /Einstein's theories opened up a whole new area for study./ 2. To make available; present an opportunity; offer. * /The building of the railroad opened up new lands to the pioneers./ * /John opened up a whole new section of the Scrabble board./ 3. {informal} To go faster. * /When they got out on the highway John opened up and drove at 65 miles per hour./ 4. {informal} To begin to shoot. * /When they got close to the enemy lines, they opened up with all they had./ 5. {informal} To begin to talk frankly. * /After John learned to trust Mr. Jones, he opened up and told him how he felt./ 6. To spread out. * /After a while the road opened up and they traveled more quickly./ 7. To become available. * /When she got her college diploma, many new jobs opened up./