speak up
/spiːk ʌp/to speak louder or more clearly so that you can be heard
Can you speak up? I can't hear you over the noise.
Someone asks another person to speak louder because the environment is noisy.
She spoke up during the meeting to share her opinion.
She spoke loudly and clearly to express her thoughts in a group discussion.
This phrase is often used when someone's voice is too quiet or unclear.
to express an opinion or concern, especially when others are silent
No one was saying anything, so I decided to speak up.
Someone decided to voice their thoughts when others were quiet.
He spoke up against the unfair policy at work.
He expressed his disagreement with a policy that he believed was unjust.
In this sense, 'speak up' means to voice an opinion, especially when others are silent.
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💡Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'speak up' can change based on the context. Pay attention to whether it is being used literally or figuratively.
⚡Gold Rule
Use in Conversations
'Speak up' is commonly used in everyday conversations to ask someone to speak louder or to encourage someone to express their opinion.
📖Word Origin
The phrase 'speak up' comes from the literal meaning of speaking louder or more clearly. Over time, it has also taken on the figurative meaning of expressing an opinion or concern.
📝Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts. In a literal sense, it means to speak louder or more clearly. In a figurative sense, it means to express an opinion or concern, especially when others are silent.