Be careful you don't trip up on the mat.

[angliholic]

Be careful you don't trip up on the mat.
Be careful you don't trip over the mat.
Be careful you don't stumble over the mat.
Be careful you don't tumble over the mat.


Do all of the above sound copacetic and mean pretty much the same? Thanks.

[Anglika]

Nice obscure word you have there!

They are all grammatical, but the last is perhaps something you would only say to a small child.

[baqarah131]

"Trip up" is different; it's not used literally, but means to make a mistake.
Note that "tumbling" is a synonym of "gymnastics."
These examples imply that the mat is rolled up. If it's lying flat, it seems more natural to say "Be careful you don't trip on the mat."
regards
edward

[angliholic]

Nice obscure word you have there!

They are all grammatical, but the last is perhaps something you would only say to a small child.

Thanks, Anglika.
The last one doesn't convey the same idea as the second and the third based on you reply. Would you describe the differences in a few words? Thanks.

"Trip up" is different; it's not used literally, but means to make a mistake.
But in that context, trip up on does mean stumble over, right?

Note that "tumbling" is a synonym of "gymnastics."
Would you elaborate on this?

These examples imply that the mat is rolled up. If it's lying flat, it seems more natural to say "Be careful you don't trip on the mat."
This makes perfect sense to me, but is it wrong to say "trip up on the mat?"

regards
edward

Thanks, baqarah.

[baqarah131]

"Trip" means to stumble because the lower part of your body is obstructed by an object.
You can not use "trip up" in this sense. Trip up has acquired a specific meaning: to make a mistake.
Gymnastics is the well-known Olympic event; tumbling is the same thing, but done without apparatus, and probably implies simpler, less complex activity.
"Don't tumble on the mat" wouldn't mean the same as "Don't trip on the mat."

"Stumble" doesn't have to be literal either. You could say, "I did well on the test but I stumbled on the last question."

Trip is interesting in modern slang. To "lay a guilt trip" on someone means to make them feel guilty about what they've done. To go on an "ego trip" means to have a very high opinion of yourself. A "trip" can also be a hallucination caused by drugs!

best wishes
edward

[angliholic]

Thanks, baqarah, for your elaborate reply.

[RonBee]

I would use the second one ("Be careful you don't trip over the mat.")

~R