IN / ON / AT the back

[TheShadow]

Hi,


I got confused since i have seen people use all three of them in the following context:

"Can you close the zip AT the back of my dress"
"Can you close the zip IN the back of my dress"
"Can you close the zip ON the back of my dress"

Which one is correct? and why? I am confused which one is correct.

Thanks

 

[MikeNewYork]

Hi,


I got confused since i have seen people use all three of them in the following context:

"Can you close the zip AT the back of my dress"
"Can you close the zip IN the back of my dress"
"Can you close the zip ON the back of my dress"

Which one is correct? and why? I am confused which one is correct.

Thanks

I have never heard any of them. At least in AmE, we don't close zippers, we zip or unzip them.

Can you zip up my dress?

 

[TheShadow]

Thanks MikeNewYork.

If i rephrased it:

AT the back of the dress, there's a zip.
ON the back of the dress, there's a zip.
IN the back of the dress, there's a zip.

What are the difference between them?

 

[Barb_D]

Perhaps "zip" is British, but in American English, it's zipper. "Zip" is the verb.

There's a zipper in the back of the dress.

 

[Rover_KE]

Perhaps "zip" is British,

Yes, it is.

 

[emsr2d2]

We say, in BrE, "do up" and "undo" a zip.

Can you do up the zip at the back of my dress please?

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

In Aust/NZ I never hear "zipper", "zip" serves as noun and verb.
As per emsr2d2's: "Can you do up the zip at the back of my dress please?"
Or, and very commonly: "Can you zip me up at the back please?"
It is usually "zip up" but I do hear "Can you zip me?".

 

[TheShadow]

would it be wrong to use 'on' since the zipper is on the back?


There is a zipper on the back of my dress.

thanks again

 

[SoothingDave]

I think I would use "on."

 

[Barb_D]

The dress zips up the back.