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My soon-to-be 87-year-old uncle is seeking meteorites near our hometown in the northwestern Ozarks. Saturday morning, he said, "There are some up on you." I immediately knew he was refering to my farm which is across the road and a little higher elevation than his and was not saying I had meteorites on my person. More precisely, he probably should have said, "There are some up on your property."
1. How common is the identification of a person with their property like this?
2. Does it occur with any other kind of property than land?
Thanks,
Emmett
While I am unfamiliar with " ... up on you," it is not odd for me to identify a person with their home or property, at least in informal conversation, with the phrase " ... by you," ... down by you," " ... up by you," " ... over by you," etc. In all cases, the presence of the person in question is optional. It is their home that is in view.
I will drop by Sam this afternoon to tend his dog while he is away.
Did Marie come up by you last weekend to pick up your mail?
Nichole said she saw some firewood down by your mom.
There's a downed wire over by Joe, so steer clear.
I confess, I use this at the office to refer to someone's desk.
I'll drop the paperwork off by you this afternoon.
Glenn said:
I will drop by Sam this afternoon to tend his dog while he is away.
Nichole said she saw some firewood down by your mom.
There's a downed wire over by Joe, so steer clear.
em>
For Sam, mom, and Joe I would probably use the possessive without adding anything like house, place, etc. The others are foreign to me.
Thanks, Glenn.
Emmett
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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