meet up

[LizzyBennet]

Hello!

I've recently come across a verb "meet up" in the following context:

...write a review of two quite different places where young people can meet up for a drink or a meal...

Is there any difference between the verbs "meet" and "meet up"? Is it possible to say: ...meet for a drink or a meal...?

Thanks in advance!

[Ann1977]

Hello!

I've recently come across a verb "meet up" in the following context:

...write a review of two quite different places where young people can meet up for a drink or a meal...

Is there any difference between the verbs "meet" and "meet up"? Is it possible to say: ...meet for a drink or a meal...?

Thanks in advance!

Yes, you can say "meet" instead of "meet up."

But the expression "meet up" has taken on the meaning of:

"A pre-planned gathering (for social interactions) of a large number of strangers with something in common"

Therefore, it is more specific than a general word "meet" -- which has all kinds of uses to describe all the ways in which people come into the presence of others.

Here's a link to Meetups.com - a web site that facilitates starting or locating meetups
Do something, Learn something, Share something, Change something - Meetup.com

That means that the use of "meet up" in your example is somewhat gratuitous. It's still a possible use, but I would edit it out and leave only "meet." The author liked the choice because of its more casual feeling, more impromptu, or friendlier, warmer .... I think it was used by the author to "soften" the "blind date" implications.

I think it might often be said:

"On Monday, I'm meeting my parents to go to a play, and on Tuesday I'm meeting up with a guy from my online dating service."

[bhaisahab]

Hello!

I've recently come across a verb "meet up" in the following context:

...write a review of two quite different places where young people can meet up for a drink or a meal...

Is there any difference between the verbs "meet" and "meet up"? Is it possible to say: ...meet for a drink or a meal...?

Thanks in advance!

"Meet up" is predominantly American English.