Can we use "cheer up" only when someone is sad?

[BigMak]

From what I understand, to cheer up means to feel less miserable or less sad.


e.g. He was feeling blue because he had a rough day at work, but an unexpected phone call from her cheered him up.


But can we use "cheer up" when the subject wasn't feeling miserable in the first place? Say, in the above example, if he hadn't had a rough day and was not feeling blue, could we still have used "cheer up"? If not, what can we use instead?


He got home after a typical day at work. An unexpected phone call from her... made him happier? Filled him with joy? brightened up his day?

 

[Rover_KE]

He was feeling blue because he had a rough day at work, but an unexpected phone call from her cheered him up.

But can we use "cheer up" when the subject wasn't feeling miserable in the first place? Say, in the above example, if he hadn't had a rough day and was not feeling blue, could we still have used "cheer up"?

No.

 

[Matthew Wai]

If you just mean 'make someone happy', you may consider 'exhilarate', see http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/exhilarate

Not a teacher.

 

[Tarheel]

He got home after a typical day at work. An unexpected phone call from her... made him happier? Filled him with joy? Brightened up his day?

Also:

Brought a smile to his face.
Made him feel good.

​

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

When you're already cheerful, you don't need cheering up.

Pay attention to the word up.

- You don't need propping up if you're already propped.
- You don't need to fix something up if it's not broken.
- You don't need to take up football if you already play football.
- You don't need to get dressed up if you're already wearing fancy clothes.

 

[BigMak]

What about brighten up? Even if my day is bright, I could still use some brightening up.

 

[Tarheel]

What about brighten up? Even if my day is bright, I could still use some brightening up.

Well, in theory even if you feel good you could still feel better. However, if your day is bright would you really be looking for a reason for it to be better?

 

[BigMak]

Well, in theory even if you feel good you could still feel better. However, if your day is bright would you really be looking for a reason for it to be better?

What's your point exactly? How is it relevant to this discussion?

 

[bhaisahab]

What's your point exactly? How is it relevant to this discussion?

The point is this: there is no need to tell someone who is having a good (bright) day to brighten up. We would only use that expression if we thought that the person was down/sad/miserable. Even then it would be necessary to give them a reason to "brighten up".

 

[BigMak]

The point is this: there is no need to tell someone who is having a good (bright) day to brighten up. We would only use that expression if we thought that the person was down/sad/miserable. Even then it would be necessary to give them a reason to "brighten up".

I guess I can see where the misunderstanding lies. I was not talking about telling someone to brighten up. My point was even if I were having a good day, which is an average day because for me an average day is a good day, things can still happen to brighten up my day.

And "brighten up" was just an example. What my actual point was, a phrasal verb that has the word "up" doesn't necessarily connote the initial absence of that verb in that particular context.

Edited:

Could you answer me this: do you absolutely have to be down in the dumps for your day to brighten up or can you have a neutral and your day could still brighten up?

Again, for you to drink up, is it required that you haven't drunk anything at all? I could have drunk half of a glass and not feel like drinking any more when someone says, "Drink up."


Besides, isn't it true for any verb and phrasal verb? You fix something only when it is broken. You go somewhere because you already haven't gone there. You eat because you already haven't eaten. You sit down only when you haven't sat down already.

Now, I don't want to look ungrateful for Charlie's reply but I am looking at this whole thing from a learner's perspective. Even when I learn a new phrasal verb with "up", the fact that we do something "up" when it is usually not done before doesn't give me much to go on since it is not always true and it is usually true for all verbs and phrasal verbs. I might have the same question when I learn a new phrasal verb whether or not it has "up". Do you see what I am saying?

 

[Tarheel]

What's your point exactly? How is it relevant to this discussion?

Believe it or not, I was responding to this:

What about brighten up? Even if my day is bright, I could still use some brightening up.

​

The point is (as bhaisahab pointed out) is that no, if you were having a good (bright) day you would not look for a reason to brighten up.

(As long as I have been doing this, I can still be surprised by people.)

 

[BigMak]

(As long as I have been doing this, I can still be surprised by people.)

That makes two of us.

 

[Tarheel]

And "brighten up" was just an example. What my actual point was, a phrasal verb that has the word "up" in it doesn't necessarily ​mean that th person wasn't doing that activity already.

Could you answer me this: do you absolutely have to be down in the dumps for your day to brighten up or can you be having a neutral dayl and your day could still brighten up?

I think I already answered that one. It is always possible for things to get better.

Again, for you to drink up, is it required that you haven't drunk anything at all? I could have drunk half of a glass and not feel like drinking any more when someone says, "Drink up."

Do you understand the context in which that expression might be used? (A social occasion.)

Besides, isn't it true for any verb and phrasal verb? You fix something only when it is broken. You go somewhere because you already haven't gone there. You eat because you haven't already eaten. You sit down only when you haven't sat down already.

It is certainly true that a person can sit down only when he isn't already seated. However, I have gone to lots of places that I had been to before. I suppose that if you have already eaten then you won't be hungry. But don't you eat because you are hungry (or so you won't get hungry)?

Now, I don't want to look ungrateful for Charlie's reply but I am looking at this whole thing from a learner's perspective. Even when I learn a new phrasal verb with "up", the fact that we do something "up" when it usually hasn't been before doesn't give me much to go on since it is not always true and it is usually true for all verbs and phrasal verbs. I might have the same question when I learn a new phrasal verb whether or not it has "up". Do you see what I am saying?

I don't think knowing that a phrasal verb has "up" in it is really all that helpful as to determining its meaning. What about, for example, fed up?

 

[BigMak]

I don't think knowing that a phrasal verb has "up" in it is really all that helpful as to determining its meaning. What about, for example, fed up?

Thank you! That was exactly my point!