Results 1 to 5 of 5
Like Tree2Likes
  • 1 Post By 5jj
  • 1 Post By waflob

Thread: to wrap up and its opposite

  1. #1
    dilodi83 is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Italian
      • Home Country:
      • Italy
      • Current Location:
      • Italy
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    589

    Default to wrap up and its opposite

    - I got to wrap up and tie up Stella's birthday present. Do you have any nice paper?

    - When Stella receives her present she'll.............. and she'll she what it is.

    Is the opposite of "to wrap up" a gift "to tear off"? I mean a verbs through which we can mean that the gift is open and the wrapping is torn (sharply or kindly)...

  2. #2
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    16,976
    Teacher

    Default Re: to wrap up and its opposite

    We unwrap presents we receive.
    waflob likes this.

  3. #3
    Robotnick2 is offline Newbie
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: to wrap up and its opposite

    I believe the correct verb would be "to unwrap"

    - When Stella receives her present she'll unwrap it and she'll she what it is.

    [not a teacher, just a native]

  4. #4
    dilodi83 is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Italian
      • Home Country:
      • Italy
      • Current Location:
      • Italy
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    589
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: to wrap up and its opposite

    Thanks so much for your explanations...but what about "to tear off"? I looked it up on Thesaurus Encyclopedia Dictionary and it says that this verb is also used to open a wrapping...now, I'm wondering what it means by "wrapping" as you say that a gift can only be unwrapped...and not torn off?
    What's your opinion about this? When would you use the verb "to tear off"?

  5. #5
    waflob is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • Germany
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    172
    Teacher

    Default Re: to wrap up and its opposite

    It really all depends on the child and how the present is unwrapped. If it is carefully removed from the wrapping, it is unwrapped. However, if the child is somewhat impatient and excited (i.e. a normal child ), then the process is somewhat shorter and the wrapping used suffers considerably more. In this case, tearing off is more accurate.
    dilodi83 likes this.

Similar Threads

  1. [General] wrap up
    By maiabulela in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-Nov-2010, 00:25
  2. [General] a tidy wrap up
    By dilermando in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 28-Apr-2009, 01:49
  3. That should about wrap it up.
    By Flyby in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 22-Jun-2008, 12:33
  4. wrap it up
    By jamenchavez in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 28-Feb-2008, 04:27
  5. wrap up
    By Ju in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 29-Jan-2007, 05:28

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0