up and down the road

[GUEST2008]

Hi

The cop cars and black sedans were swooping up and down the road.

Does it mean they were coming from either side of the road (from the left side and the right side for example)?

 

[apex2000]

No. They were rushing along the road in both directions, probably turning to rush back again.

 

[opa6x57]

Hi

The cop cars and black sedans were swooping up and down the road.

Does it mean they were coming from either side of the road (from the left side and the right side for example)?

=============================
Not a teacher, 53-year-old American.
=============================

Not in American English.
"Up and down the road" means 'all along the road' - continuously.

 

[apex2000]

=============================
Not a teacher, 53-year-old American.
=============================

Not in American English.
"Up and down the road" means 'all along the road' - continuously.

In which direction?

 

[opa6x57]

In which direction?

Both directions.

In the original post, the cars were swooping - indicating they were moving.

But, another example would be: "There was trash all up and down the road." This means there was trash along the road - all along the road - in both directions from the viewer's standpoint.

"Cars were parked all up and down the road." ... same meaning - there were cars parked along the road - in both directions from the viewer's standpoint.


The 4th definition in Webster's online dictionary:

: with regard to every particular : thoroughly <knew the territory up and down>

Found here: Up and down - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

 

[mykwyner]

To clarify:

Up and Down the road means "along the length of the road (both directions)," not the width.