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Gianluca
Difference between "to look after" and "to bring up".
Hi all,
The sentences "look after a child" and "bring up a child" have the same meaning?
I found in a book:
look after a child=bring up
Thanks for your help
Jan 26, 2014 10:35 AM
Answers · 2
4
They are related but not exactly the same.
"To bring us a child" means to raise that child from a young age and to have a lot of influence over them. "My mother brought me up to have respect fro adults." "I was brought up by my grandmother after my parents died." It's not a short term thing.
"To look after a child" is to have care of them for a particular moment in time. If I go to the neighbour's house and babysit their kids for the night and then leave when the parents get home, I have looked after the kids (for that night) but I haven't brought them up.
January 26, 2014
2
They are similar but not identical in meaning. A person who "brings up" a child is acting as a substitute parent while a person who "looks after" a child may just be babysitting. I think these can be used interchangeably unless the distinction is important. For example, if the child is primarily cared for by his nanny I might choose "brings up" but if the child's parents are actively involved in his care but occasionally leave him with a nanny I would probably choose "looks after".
January 26, 2014
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Gianluca
Language Skills
English, Italian
Learning Language
English
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