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What is "to open up"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To open up

Open \O"pen\ v. t. [imp. & p. p. Opened; p. pr. & vb. n. Opening.] [AS. openian. See Open,a.]

  1. To make or set open; to render free of access; to unclose; to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or covering from; as, to open a door; to open a box; to open a room; to open a letter.

    And all the windows of my heart I open to the day.
    --Whittier.

  2. To spread; to expand; as, to open the hand.

  3. To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain.

    The king opened himself to some of his council, that he was sorry for the earl's death.
    --Bacon.

    Unto thee have I opened my cause.
    --Jer. xx. 12.

    While he opened to us the Scriptures.
    --Luke xxiv. 32.

  4. To make known; to discover; also, to render available or accessible for settlements, trade, etc.

    The English did adventure far for to open the North parts of America.
    --Abp. Abbot.

  5. To enter upon; to begin; as, to open a discussion; to open fire upon an enemy; to open trade, or correspondence; to open an investigation; to open a case in court, or a meeting.

  6. To loosen or make less compact; as, to open matted cotton by separating the fibers.

    To open one's mouth, to speak.

    To open up, to lay open; to discover; to disclose.

    Poetry that had opened up so many delightful views into the character and condition of our ``bold peasantry, their country's pride.''
    --Prof. Wilson.

Usage examples of "to open up".

Simultaneously with the fading away of the sound, the heavens seemed to open up with the rapidity of lightning into a blue vault of immeasurable height.

He been half waiting for them to open up on his company at any moment, and he hadn’.

But not far ahead it seemed to open up wider, and from that area I heard, &quot.

As I found myself more and more drawn to him physically, I discovered I was still unable to open up my heart to him.

He been half waiting for them to open up on his company at any moment, and he hadn't enjoyed the mental image of that eventuality which his imagination had conjured up.

Someone - a foreigner, without a doubt - had had the nerve to open up a window.

That's what the Shadows are trying to open up, and that's what we want to keep closed down.