Re: Annoying use of prepositions

On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 17:18:00 -0700 (PDT),
martin_pentreath@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 said:

> Paying "down" a loan - what happened to paying it off?

If I pay amounts toward a loan balance from time to time, I
am paying it down.  If I finally make the last payment,
reducing the balance to zero, I have paid the loan off.
 
> Parking "up" at the air****t - why can't you just park?

"Parking up" is a stranger to me.  I have never heard
it--until now--and would never say it.
 
> The same with heading "up" a team.

I agree.  "Heading a team" seems to mean exactly the same as
"heading up a team".

But why does "slow down" mean the same as "slow up", while
"speed up" is heard, but not "speed down"?
 
> That's all I can think of now. I feel better already.

I'm glad your ruminations have cheered you up.