open up
open up — phrasal verb
- open upbase form
- opens up3rd person singular
- opening up-ing form
- opened uppast simple
1. to pull, push, lift, or cut apart the parts of something that is closed, sealed,
to pull, push, lift, or cut apart the parts of something that is closed, sealed, or locked, so that the inside can be reached, looked at, or used. Often used when some effort or force is needed.
The doctor opened up the wound to remove the small pieces of glass.
collocation: open up a wound / a package / a container
Adina opened up the suitcase on the bed and pulled out her clothes.
transitive: open up + [container]
The technician opened up the back of the computer to replace the hard drive.
Lauren opened up the sealed envelope and read the letter inside.
Rescue workers had to open up the twisted door of the car after the accident.
文法句型
open up + noun phrase (container, door, package, wound)
open + noun phrase + up
open up (intransitive)
用法筆記
More informal than the plain verb 'open'. The object can come between 'open' and 'up' (open the box up). In medical contexts, 'open up a wound' is the standard phrasing for surgically reopening.
常見錯誤
2. to begin serving customers at a shop, restaurant, or café for the current day, e
to begin serving customers at a shop, restaurant, or café for the current day, especially by unlocking the doors and preparing the premises for people to enter.
The bakery opens up at six in the morning every day except Sunday.
intransitive: open up at [time]
Felix opened up the café early because of the big street festival that day.
transitive: open up + [business]
Lakan unlocked the front door and opened up the bookstore at nine o'clock sharp.
It was raining hard, so Nala opened up the shop fifteen minutes later than usual.
- open
more neutral; 'open up' feels slightly more informal and thorough
- close up
to shut the business at the end of the day
文法句型
open up (at + time)
open up + noun phrase (shop, store, café)
open + noun phrase + up
用法筆記
Transitive when the speaker says which business is being opened; intransitive when the business is already known from context. Contrasts with 'close up' for the end of the day. Use the simple present tense for habitual opening times.
常見錯誤
3. to create and start running a new company, store, restaurant, or other commercia
to create and start running a new company, store, restaurant, or other commercial venture that did not exist in that location before.
After years of baking at home, Allison opened up a cake shop on Market Street.
transitive: open up + [type of business]
A new yoga studio opened up in the old building where the library once stood.
intransitive: [business] opened up + [location]
The Hernandez family opened up a restaurant serving traditional dishes from Oaxaca.
Several small tech companies opened up in the area after the internet cable arrived.
- close down
to stop operating a business permanently
- shut down
to end operations
文法句型
open up + noun phrase (a shop, restaurant, business, store)
open up (intransitive — a new restaurant opened up)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is about beginning the day's business at an existing shop; sense 3 is about founding a new enterprise for the first time. Intransitive use describes a new business appearing in a location.
常見錯誤
4. when an event, policy, or decision creates new opportunities, choices, or possib
when an event, policy, or decision creates new opportunities, choices, or possibilities that did not exist before, making them available for people to use or enjoy.
The new railway line opened up job opportunities for thousands of people in the region.
collocation: open up opportunities / open up markets
Learning Mandarin opened up better job opportunities for Felipe in Shanghai.
[skill/experience] + opens up + [opportunities]
Lisa's grant opened up the chance for her to study art history in Florence.
Trade agreements between the two countries have opened up markets for small farmers.
Online learning has opened up education to people who live far from big cities.
文法句型
open up + noun phrase (opportunities / markets / possibilities / doors)
用法筆記
Transitive only — requires a direct object. Subject is typically an event, policy, technology, or decision, not a person acting directly. Often used with nouns like 'opportunities', 'markets', 'possibilities', 'doors', or 'choices'. Frequently positive in tone.
常見錯誤
5. when a job, position, or opportunity becomes available, it appears or is freed f
when a job, position, or opportunity becomes available, it appears or is freed for someone to take or use, often unexpectedly or at a specific time.
A teaching position at the international school opened up just when Wren needed it.
intransitive: a position / job / spot opens up
After the manager retired, several new roles opened up in the sales department.
A better job opened up for Dario after he finished his training course.
A spot in the training programme opened up, so Nkechi applied right away.
- become available
more literal, less idiomatic
- appear
broader, not limited to job contexts
- arise
slightly more formal, suggests a natural emergence
- close
stop being available
文法句型
[job / position / opportunity / spot / role] + opens up
用法筆記
Always intransitive — the job or opportunity is the subject, not the person who takes it. The subject is a desirable opening (job, role, spot, vacancy), not a problem or negative situation. Distinguish from sense 4, where someone actively creates the opportunity (transitive).
常見錯誤
6. to bring hidden information, facts, or secrets to light so that people can learn
to bring hidden information, facts, or secrets to light so that people can learn about them, often through investigation or research.
The journalist's investigation opened up evidence of illegal fishing in protected waters.
collocation: open up evidence / open up facts
Andrés opened up a hidden world of underground music when he launched his podcast.
collocation: open up a hidden world of [something]
Yara's research opened up details about the old castle that historians had never seen before.
The court case opened up new facts about past company decisions.
文法句型
open up + noun phrase (evidence / facts / secrets / details)
用法筆記
Subject is typically an investigation, study, inquiry, or inquisitive action. Unlike sense 4 (CREATE OPPORTUNITIES), the focus here is on exposing what was hidden rather than creating something new. Often used with abstract nouns like 'world', 'facts', 'evidence'.
7. to begin talking honestly about your personal thoughts, feelings, or problems, e
to begin talking honestly about your personal thoughts, feelings, or problems, especially when you are usually private or shy about such topics and it takes time to feel comfortable enough.
Leo opened up to his sister about how nervous he felt starting his new job.
pattern: open up + to + person + about + topic
It took hours of careful questions before Diego opened up about his childhood.
open up about [topic]
The therapist told the couple that they needed to open up to each other more.
Bao had never discussed his mother's illness but opened up to friends that night.
It took several cups of tea before Tariq opened up about leaving his old job.
- confide
stronger focus on trusting the listener with private information; used with 'in' (confide in someone)
- unburden oneself
more formal; emphasises relief after sharing worries
- speak out
more about expressing a public opinion rather than sharing personal feelings
文法句型
open up (about + topic)
open up (to + person)
open up (about + topic + to + person)
用法筆記
Intransitive only — never takes a direct object. Commonly followed by about + topic and/or to + person. The subject is someone who was previously guarded, shy, or hesitant about sharing. This sense implies emotional trust built over time.
常見錯誤
8. when a wide, impressive view or open space appears in front of you as you move i
when a wide, impressive view or open space appears in front of you as you move into a new position, especially after passing through a narrow or obstructed area.
After climbing the hill, a beautiful lake opened up before Takeshi and his friends.
intransitive: view / valley / scene opens up before [someone]
When they reached the mountain top, the entire valley opened up beneath them.
preposition: opens up beneath / before / ahead
The narrow road ended suddenly, and a wide sandy beach opened up ahead.
From the hotel balcony, a stunning view of the city opened up at sunset.
- spread out
more neutral, less vivid
- unfold
suggests a gradual revealing, like petals or a map
- come into view
emphasises the observer's experience, not the scene's action
文法句型
[view / scene / valley / landscape] + opens up + [preposition (before / beneath / ahead)]
用法筆記
Almost always used with a scenic or spatial subject (view, valley, landscape, panorama). Intransitive — the scene itself spreads out before the observer; no one actively opens it. Common prepositions: before, beneath, ahead, below.
9. to become wider or to make a narrow space wider by removing an obstacle, wall, o
to become wider or to make a narrow space wider by removing an obstacle, wall, or barrier, creating more room or an open area.
The narrow dirt track opened up into a proper paved road near the village.
intransitive: narrow space opens up into [wider area]
Joon carefully opened up the hole in the fence so the pipe could fit through.
transitive: open up [opening/hole]
The builders opened up the kitchen wall to create an open-plan living space.
The narrow corridor opened up into a large hall with tall windows.
- narrow
to become narrower; the opposite direction
文法句型
open up + noun (transitive: make a space wider)
noun + open up + into + noun (intransitive: space becomes wider)
用法筆記
Often used with 'into' to describe what the wider space becomes ('opened up into a courtyard'). Differs from sense 8 (VIEW APPEARS): sense 8 is about a panoramic vista appearing suddenly; sense 9 is about physically expanding a space or a passage becoming wider.
常見錯誤
10. to start firing from weapons such as guns, cannons, or missile launchers, especi
to start firing from weapons such as guns, cannons, or missile launchers, especially in a battle, military conflict, or armed confrontation.
The soldiers opened up with heavy machine guns when the enemy came closer.
military use: open up with [weapon]
The warship opened up on the enemy base at dawn, firing large shells.
open up on [target]
When the rebels appeared on the ridge, the army opened up with heavy machine guns.
The tank opened up on the building, and the wall crumbled at once.
- open fire
more common equivalent; 'open fire on' is the standard formal military phrasing
- start shooting
less formal, wider range of contexts including non-military
- cease fire
stop shooting, often as an order
文法句型
open up (on/at + target)
open up (with + weapon)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively found in military, police, or action-film contexts. The subject is a person, group, or military unit operating a weapon. The preposition 'on' or 'at' introduces the target; 'with' introduces the weapon type. Intransitive only.