student asking question

Can I say just "open" instead of "open up"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

No, in this case, it would sound a little awkward if you replaced "open up" with "open". This is because "open up" is a phrasal verb and has a slightly different meaning than "open". To "open up" here means to reveal or communicate something better or in a more honest and comfortable way. Ex: She won't open up about her childhood. Ex: I'm trying to get the students to open up, but they are all very shy.

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