where do you up to?

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asal-F

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when do we use this phrase?" where do you up to?"
 

Barb_D

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What are you up to? = What are you doing right now?
What do you do? = What is your occupation.
 

Boris Tatarenko

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Hello.

I have never heard this phrase "what are you up to". Is it common?

Thanks.
 

emsr2d2

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Where are you up to? = How far through the book/film etc have you reached?
 

Barb_D

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Hello.

I have never heard this phrase "what are you up to". Is it common?

Thanks.


Very common.

You walk up to your friend, who is sitting with electrical parts all around him.
You: Hey, Boris, what are you up to?
(I'm trying to repair my alarm clock.)

You come upon your daughter, who has made a complete mess in the kitchen but appears quite happy.
You, trying not to sound alarmed: Hi honey. Um... what are you up to?
(I have to bring cupcakes to school tomorrow and I'm doing it all by myself!)

You see a friend you haven't seen in a couple months
Hey, ems! What have you been up to lately?
 

emsr2d2

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Hey, ems! What have you been up to lately?

Thanks for asking! Not been up to much, just some corrections of capitalisation and punctuation!
 

Boris Tatarenko

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As usual :-D .
 

LeTyan

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Does "What are you up to" have a slight negative connotation to it? Because there is "He is up to no good".
 

Barb_D

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Does "What are you up to" have a slight negative connotation to it? Because there is "He is up to no good".

No, there is nothing negative about asking what someone is or has been up to.

My God! What are you doing?! -- This has a negative connotation.
 

MikeNewYork

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Does "What are you up to" have a slight negative connotation to it? Because there is "He is up to no good".

It can, in some cases, carry a suspicious meaning, but in other cases, it is just about information.
 
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