Saw this in dialog that I study (real american conversation):
"Yeah, how was, did you, did you make it up there, uh, as you expected? I mean
how was your, how was your trip up there?"
They are speaking about the trip to Washington, but make it up means to do something good for someone you have upset, in order to become friends with them again.
In this case what does "make it up there" (speaking about trip) means?
Most maps in the USA are oriented with north at the top. we therefore say "up" for north and "down" for south.
The expression "make it" has several meanings. One meaning is "to succeed at what you are doing, or at what you want to do." Example: Person 1: "I am studying to become a doctor." Person 2: "I hope you make it." = I hope you succeed; I hope you will be able to do/achieve it.
In the context of geography, "up" can refer to a place farther north, and "down" can refer to a place farther south. Examples: I live in Moscow, and am going up to Saint Petersburg by train. I live in Saint Petersburg, and am going down to Moscow next week.
Your sentence which includes "did you make it up there" means, as torusan has already said, "Were you able to travel to Washington?" "how was your trip up there" refers to a trip to a place which is farther north than the starting point.
However, "Washington" could either mean the state of Washington, or Washington, D.C. We don't know which one was meant.
No, in this is case "make it up there" means were you able to travel to Washington. Washington state is northwest United States, so that's why we say "up". If it were say, Florida (in the southeast US), we would say "did you make it *down* there?"
Thanks a lot!
