The phrase "coming up" is spelled /ˈkʌmɪŋ ʌp/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "u" sound, as in "come." The second syllable is pronounced with a short "i" sound, as in "win." The final consonant in "coming" is a voiced velar nasal, which is produced by blocking the airflow through the mouth and releasing it through the nose while the vocal cords vibrate. The final syllable, "up," is pronounced with a short "uh" sound and a voiceless bilabial stop.
"Coming up" is a phrasal verb that can be used in different contexts, and its meaning varies depending on the situation.
1. When used to refer to an event, "coming up" means that something is approaching in the near future. It suggests that an occasion, deadline, or important happening will soon occur. For example, "Our annual conference is coming up next week."
2. In the context of a conversation or discussion, "coming up" can indicate that a particular topic or subject will be addressed soon. It signals that the topic is about to be mentioned or discussed in the following moments. For instance, "We have a lot of interesting topics coming up in today's meeting."
3. When used to describe a person's ascent or rise in a particular field or industry, "coming up" refers to progressing or achieving success. It implies that someone is gaining recognition, reputation, or prominence. For instance, "She is a talented musician who is really coming up in the music industry."
4. In a physical sense, "coming up" can mean moving vertically towards a higher level. For example, "The elevator is coming up to the 10th floor."
Overall, "coming up" carries the idea of something approaching, advancing, or rising in various contexts, such as events, discussions, personal achievements, or physical movement.
The phrase "coming up" is a colloquial expression that originated in English. It consists of the verb "coming", which is the present participle form of the verb "come", and the preposition "up".
The word "come" comes from the Old English word "cuman", which meant "to move, approach, or arrive". It has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as German "kommen" and Dutch "komen". Over time, "come" has remained relatively unchanged in terms of its basic meaning of moving or arriving at a place.
The preposition "up" dates back to Old English as well, derived from the Proto-Germanic root "ūp", which meant "upward" or "above". It also has cognates in other Germanic languages like German "auf" and Dutch "op".