Phraseology and Culture in English

Phrasal verbs using up
we cook im up 
‘we cook it’ 
and I cooked up myself 
‘and I did the cooking myself’ 
roast it up 
‘roast it’ 
e chased im up 
‘he chased (and caught (up with)) him’ 
we bury im up 
‘we buried it’ 
block him up 
‘give him plenty of food’ 
you get jarred up by your coach 
‘you are reprimanded by your coach’ 
scorch him up 
‘be strict on him’ 
go and flog them up 
‘go and bash them up’ 
pet him up 
‘pet him’, or ‘cuddle him’ 
learn it up 
‘learn it’ 
busted up my nail 
‘broke my finger nail’ 
patchin up for money 
‘asking around for contributions’ (e.g. 
patchin(g) up for milk)
share things up 
‘share things around’ 
I make up I belt ’em 
‘I pretend to belt them’ 
e was tired, being charged up 
‘he was tired, being drunk.’ 
According to Moore (1999) there are 25 distinct meanings of the particle up in 
Australian English. Of these there is one which predominates in its use in 
Aboriginal English: the sense of ‘completely or effectively.’ This accounts for

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Multiword units in Aboriginal English
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its use in the first twelve examples above. In the case of patchin up and shar-
ing up the particle extends the sense of completeness to the inclusion of the 
group. The expression charged up is possibly a derivation from the phrase 
charge your glasses.
Phrasal verbs using out 
an make out they was walkin ‘and give the impression that they were walk-
ing’ 
[I] sing out to them two 
‘I called out to the two of them’ 
an e singin my name out 
‘and he’s “singing” my name’ 
B was laughing out M… 
‘B was laughing and mocking M…’ 
M laughed out im 
‘M laughed and mocked him’ 
we wen’ campin out dere 
‘we camped (out) there’ 
The case of sing out is complicated by the fact that it may carry two meanings. 
In the first example above, as in non-standard Australian English, it is essen-
tially equivalent to Standard English call out; however, in the second example, 
because it collocates with my name, it carries an implication of the exercise of 
spiritual power. The use of the particle out with laugh adds the sense of public 
ridicule, something which is particularly offensive to Aboriginal people for 
whom it is shameful to be isolated from the group. The term campin(g) out is 
not redundant, since, in Aboriginal English, camping can mean ‘stopping 
over’ (staying) at the home of friends or relations.