[Vocabulary] wire up

Can "wire up" mean to "explode"? I know the general meaning, but i want to know if it can be "explode"?

In the sentence "Wire this shit hole up" can it mean "burn or explde this dirty place"???

waiting for the reply
thanks.

maiabulela said:

Can "wire up" mean to "explode"? I know the general meaning, but i want to know if it can be "explode"?

In the sentence "Wire this shit hole up" can it mean "burn or explde this dirty place"???

waiting for the reply
thanks.

Click to expand...

I would say that it can mean to prepare something for an explosion, yes. In that specific sentence "Wire this shithole (one word) up", then I believe that they are planning to place explosives and the wires around the place, in preparation for blowing it up.

However, to wire up does not literally mean to explode, no.

Yes. I know literally it doesn't mean that but i wanted to get sure that it "can" mean "explode" but really in the video, the places eplode. I'm asking bec I haven't found that meaning when i looked it up. SO Thanks a lot :up:

maiabulela said:

Yes. I know literally it doesn't mean that but i wanted to get sure that it "can" mean "explode" but really in the video, the places eplode. I'm asking bec I haven't found that meaning when i looked it up. SO Thanks a lot :up:

Click to expand...

Well, I would still say that no, it CANNOT mean to explode. The final result after wiring something up may well be an explosion, but that doesn't mean that the phrase itself can be used to mean explode.

Incidentally, we wouldn't say that we are going to "explode a building". Normally, we would say "to blow up a building". To explode is normally used to explain what happened afterwards:

- What happened to that building?
- It exploded.
- Do you know why?
- Those men blew it up.

Another word which can be used in this context is 'rig'.

(1) Rig this shithole up!
(2) Stay clear of the door! - It is rigged.

*not a teacher*