Difference between "Rest" and "Rest Up"
Hi guys,
Is there any significant difference between "rest" and "rest up" ?

Actually I was listening to a podcast, and the guy who had got back home from a journey that day, said he had to rest up.
So what's the difference ?

Thanks ,
Melody

Question

Difference between "Rest" and "Rest Up"
Hi guys,
Is there any significant difference between "rest" and "rest up" ?

Actually I was listening to a podcast, and the guy who had got back home from a journey that day, said he had to rest up.
So what's the difference ?

Thanks ,
Melody

Answer

I've thought this over for a long while, and this is what I can understand:

Adding "up" suggests a certain result. In this case, "to rest up" suggests that he rests in order to regain his energy. The result of the "rest" is a re-energised body/mind.  The verb "rest" by itself doesn't imply this result as clearly.  This can be applied to other phrasal verbs ending with "up", and I've seen "out" and "off" suggest the same "certain result".

However, not every phrasal verb with "up (or off/out)" follows this meaning, so be very careful! You still need to learn the phrasal verbs as you go. Phrasal verbs rely on context, and so their meanings are not automatic.

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