two points ahead

[navi tasan]

Which are correct?

1) We were two points ahead of them.
2) We were two up on them.
3) We were two up against them.

They are all supposed to mean the same thing. We were playing a game against them and we were two points ahead.

I think #1 is fine, as is #2. I have strong doubts about #3.

I think "number+up on someone" is a set expression and 'up' cannot be replaced with 'against', but to me, logically at least, 'against' makes sense!

 

[tedmc]

I would use only #1.

I would prefer "We were leading by two points".

 

[Tarheel]

You are right to have strong doubts about #3.

The first two are okay.

 

[emsr2d2]

#3 is OK in BrE.

Tottenham Hotspur were two up against Manchester United at half-time.

 

[Tarheel]

#3 is OK in BrE.

Tottenham Hotspur were two up against Manchester United at half-time.

That may be another British English/American English difference, or maybe in parts of the country they say "up" or "down". I've just never heard it to the best of my memory. I just listened to a football game Saturday.(By the way, the Tar Heels won. ) Now I'm going to listen for it and see if they say "up".

 

[Skrej]

I'm fine with all three.

 

[Piscean]

I wouldn't use 'points' of a football match. I'd use 'goals'.

 

[SoothingDave]

That may be another British English/American English difference, or maybe in parts of the country they say "up" or "down". I've just never heard it to the best of my memory. I just listened to a football game Saturday.(By the way, the Tar Heels win. ) Now I'm going to listen for it and see if they say "up".

We might say "they were up by 4 with 2 minutes left," but we wouldn't say "4 up."

 

[jutfrank]

Tottenham Hotspur were two up against Manchester United at half-time.

I'm not saying that's wrong, but it isn't particularly likely, as it could be quite confusing without a clear context. Normally, you'd expect to hear the score, not the goal difference.

Tottenham were two-nil up against Manchester United at half-time.
Tottenham were four-two up against Manchester United at half-time.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm not saying that's wrong, but it isn't particularly likely, as it could be quite confusing without a clear context. Normally, you'd expect to hear the score, not the goal difference.

Tottenham were two-nil up against Manchester United at half-time.
Tottenham were four-two up against Manchester United at half-time.

I'd probably expect the score too, but I was thinking in terms of more context, such as Spurs going on to lose the match.

Spurs were two up against Man United at half-time but eventually lost five-two.