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Parked Up vs Parked

47 replies

Zimunya · 20/06/2024 13:42

Everyone in my office says "parked up" when referring to parking their car. I think the "up" is redundant, as "parked" suffices. But is this one of the English language's many subtle but critical differences? Does anyone know?

OP posts:

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AGlinnerOfHope · 20/06/2024 13:43

I would only use it if I remained in the car a while- to eat lunch or something. I wouldn’t use it for generic parking.

perhaps it’s regional?

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ASighMadeOfStone · 20/06/2024 13:45

Cambridge dictionary gives the difference as:

Park up= to park and leave your vehicle for some time
Park= no additional inference of time

So, as with phrasal verbs in general, the particle gives an extra meaning, or extra bit of information.

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Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 20/06/2024 13:46

I think 'parked up' refers to storing a car for an extended period. I think your colleagues should just say they have parked their car if it's just for the duration of the working day.

Just seen I've cross posted the same response.

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Fleetheart · 20/06/2024 13:48

isn’t it one of these insidious Americanisms that is creeping in? We always used to just say parked didn’t we?

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DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 20/06/2024 13:49

Fleetheart · 20/06/2024 13:48

isn’t it one of these insidious Americanisms that is creeping in? We always used to just say parked didn’t we?

As I read the first two posts, I felt like that!!

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incessantpunditry · 20/06/2024 13:49

DH says it too, and I don't like it either.

It would make sense if there was also a 'parked down', which there isn't.

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ASighMadeOfStone · 20/06/2024 13:50

Fleetheart · 20/06/2024 13:48

isn’t it one of these insidious Americanisms that is creeping in? We always used to just say parked didn’t we?

No. Phrasal verbs are all old English in origin. Rarely used in US English.

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darksigns · 20/06/2024 13:51

I would use ‘parked up’ if the person was staying in the car, such as somewhere picturesque whilst eating lunch.

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loudbatperson · 20/06/2024 13:52

I would only use parked up if I was leaving the car for some time, such as having it SORN or in storage or similar.

I wouldn't use it for eternally day to day parking.

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legacyflygirl · 20/06/2024 13:53

Hmmm interesting!
I would say 'I parked near the station' referring to the position of the car, whereas 'parked up' means getting out of the car, unloading bags, buggies, bikes etc There is a subtle difference in meaning....

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Shinyandnew1 · 20/06/2024 13:56

darksigns · 20/06/2024 13:51

I would use ‘parked up’ if the person was staying in the car, such as somewhere picturesque whilst eating lunch.

Yup, I agree with this. Or ‘DS, I’m parked up outside yours, can you run out and bring me my coat I left yesterday?’

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Zimunya · 20/06/2024 13:59

Well, this in intriguing! My colleagues use "parked up" to describe parking their car at work - so not for a long period of time, and nor are they waiting in the car. But it's clear from the posts above that this phrase is commonly used. Thank you to everyone for your insights :)

OP posts:

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ElizabethZott1961 · 22/06/2024 03:13

When I saw this I'm reminded of being told to rest up. What does it mean?

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ASighMadeOfStone · 22/06/2024 07:13

I'd say the "up" in "rest up" adds the same nuance.
Rest- could be 30 seconds, could be an hour etc. No real inference beyond the main meaning
Rest up- after something more strenuous or after being ill maybe.

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Dilbertian · 22/06/2024 07:53

'Up' has long been used as an idiomatic addition which subtly changes the emphasis: clear up, finish up, rest up, come up, shut up, etc.

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MontyDonsBlueScarf · 22/06/2024 08:19

There's a difference in meaning but it's interesting that there's no agreement on what the difference is. It's something to do with time, but you staying with the car for a while or the car staying off the road for a while are completely different. Perhaps it's about putting the emphasis on what happened after you pulled up rather than the act of parking? Similar to 'rest up' and 'have a rest '?

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Theunamedcat · 22/06/2024 08:23

Parked up - waiting for someone
Parked - leaving the car
Parked down - only really used when gesturing towards the car ie "I'm parked down there"

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AgnesX · 22/06/2024 08:24

I've noticed the insidious creep of this and it's so irritating. When did parking "up" became a thing.

Everyone and their granny's dog seems to use it. DH has been warned!

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Mammyofonlyone · 22/06/2024 08:29

My husband says this.

He, and many other people I've noticed, also unnecessarily adds in 'off' to sentences e.g. 'I'm just going to fry off these onions' which drives me batty

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ASighMadeOfStone · 22/06/2024 08:32

AgnesX · 22/06/2024 08:24

I've noticed the insidious creep of this and it's so irritating. When did parking "up" became a thing.

Everyone and their granny's dog seems to use it. DH has been warned!

They're not a new thing and are very useful. They add meaning as above.

Most have a latinate synonym which came much later than the original root of the phrasal verb and is considered much more formal (go down/descend for example) The roots of the phrasal verbs come from old/middle English which, in turn, came from the Norse languages.

That they've now evolved by adding the particle to give an extra, different, or idiomatic meaning is a brilliant example of language reflecting its context.

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Clearinguptheclutter · 22/06/2024 08:35

legacyflygirl · 20/06/2024 13:53

Yes. More specifically when I say parked I’d always follow it with a location.

I parked on the 2nd floor
I parked round the corner

parked up has more finality about it and is not necessarily location specific

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TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/06/2024 11:12

incessantpunditry · 20/06/2024 13:49

DH says it too, and I don't like it either.

It would make sense if there was also a 'parked down', which there isn't.

Yes there is.

'I parked down the road as there was no where closer for me to park up. 🤣'

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CarolinaInTheMorning · 22/06/2024 17:01

Fleetheart · 20/06/2024 13:48

isn’t it one of these insidious Americanisms that is creeping in? We always used to just say parked didn’t we?

No. Americans don't say "parked up."

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MontyDonsBlueScarf · 22/06/2024 17:16

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/06/2024 11:12

Yes there is.

'I parked down the road as there was no where closer for me to park up. 🤣'

Edited

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Surely in this example 'down' belongs to 'the road' just as you would say 'up the road'. It indicates the direction on the road. It's just coincidence that the previous word is parked.

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Fleetheart · 22/06/2024 17:47

@CarolinaInTheMorning , you’re right, but where did it suddenly come from I wonder? Twenty years ago I could swear we all just talked about parking, not parking up!