Up and Down

There are many phrases in the English language that contain words implying direction, when no direction is implied in the meaning.

We say "slow up" and "slow down" to convey the same meaning, though one isn't necessarily slowing with a particular direction in mind. Nor would we ever say "slow sideways".

But though we urge people to "hurry up", we never urge them to "hurry down" in the same sense, unless they read an ad urges them to "hurry down to the XYZ store for great savings!"

"Sit up" and "sit down" have complementary meanings that do involve direction. "Stand up" is the opposite movement from "sit down", but "stand down" isn't the opposite of "sit up".

We "wake up", but we don't "sleep down".

Parents tell their children to "settle down", but they never tell them to "settle up" -- unless the kids owe their parents money!

People "boogie down", but they never "boogie up". They also "fuck up", but never "fuck down", though I'd be willing to give it a try!

We "put people down", to insult them, but to "put people up", is to offer them lodging and hospitality.

One can "put up with" something or someone, but we can't "put down with" the same thing. And then there's "Put in" and "put out", which can both involve the sex act, but that's for another post on "in and out"!

Thoughts?