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fox1 · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 268

Hey guys! (<that's normal.. I think!)

"How was your weekend?"

"(It was) cool."

"(yeah?) What did you get up to?"

Is "What did you get up to" a normal phrase that may be useful to teach? I know it's an odd question. Obviously, my students aren't quite at the level of "yo.,.,wassup, wotzbeenhappenin to yo mama" how was your weekend, so I want to teach them a few useful variations of "What did you do?"

The weird thing is... I've asked around a bit. One Canadian says she NEVER ever ever has said "What did you get up to?". One Canadian says sure, it's completely fine. One American says, again, he NEVER ever has said it... in fact he would say, in response to (How was your weekend>) "It was cool"...> "What were you up to"? Confused

What would you say.. and what would you teach.. as useful variations of "What did you do" in this case. (I know all the "What have you been doing, what's been... bla bla bla, but..!)

How was your weekend?
Awesome.
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Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Ask non-English Gibson. He knows from idioms. Wink

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

I've never heard that expression outside of using it in a numerical sense. For example:

A: I was trying to count the stars last night.

B: What did you get up to?

C: I got up to 8,723, but then I was interrupted and lost count.

As for the other:

A: What are you boys up to? (mean face)

B: Nothing, teacher! (caught red-handed making trouble)

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

From - Oxford Book of Idioms -

up to sth -

doing something,especially sth bad -

What's she up to?
We used to get up to all sorts of things.

Often used in England where I come from as a 'What did you do?' question.It is used in the quite normal sense but also for mischief. 'What mischief did you get up to ' or someone might play with the intonation to suggest you have been a bad boy 'What did you get up to then' My girlfriend may ask me after I've been away from her for a while - suggesting I've been banging other girls.

So yes it is fine to teach but be careful with particularly intonation and perhaps if the students knew the suggestive meaning and the straight forward 'doing something' meaning it may help.

georginachina · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 193

Yes, it's normal English, meaning "what did you do"

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

Yes, in GREAT BRITAIN, this is a very common expression.

Two things about the English used in North America that have always puzzled me:

Did you ever see....? Did you ever eat.....?
Use of Do as an auxiliary verb to form Present Perfect.

Lack of adverbs. i.e He dances real good (?) instead of He dances really well.

Americans really don't seem to like well at all....

Lute451 · Joined: 09 May 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Anshan, China

TESOUL · Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 19

It is not like there is this magic dictionary of right or wrong idomatic expression. Of course you should teach it. If you say it and it feels common to you, then some of students are bound to come across it again.

Teaching idiomatic language is not essentially about the student being able to say it or use it with confidence, it is to ensure that they can understand it when some says it to them.

"what did you get up to?" is very common in England and Austrlalia. We don't really want our students to reply in a confused manner

"I wasn't counting anything"

Crippler · Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Dongguan

Idiomatic language is often outside the boundaries of grammar rules. In fact, it is usually created locally and then either stays local or catches on in the larger community.. I generally try to help my tudents see the difference between "Good Grammar" which they need for exams, etc., and idiomatic language which is used for most other things. Especially, oral english, novels, songs, and poetry....

fox1 · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 268

thanks people..

I should say.,.. I know well the meanings and uses of "What did you get up to?".

My question is just about "What did you get up to", not "What are you up to", etc.

I just wanted to know if it's used much, or at all, in the US, as a "What did you do" variation.

I know about the mischievous connotations of "What did you get up to".

However, I think it's a phrase that low levels should ideally know and get into practising. But maybe not if nobody in the US uses it.

It's basically just for the following. Keep in mind, fairly low levels, and I'm looking at expanding on "What did you do?".:

"How was your weekend?"
"Really good, ...awesome...etc."
"Yeah? What did you get up to...?"
"Not much.. I just stayed home and watched TV", etc.

Yu · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 1219 Location: Shanghai

Sounds like English spoken by Southerners in America.... it is something my cousins would say but I wouldn't.

fox1 · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 268

it has sort of well-read, cultured connotations, I would argue.

By the way, in this situation, would would Americans commonly say, apart from the tired, formal, boring old "What did you do?"

How was your weekend?
So good!..
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sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

And of course the sentence stress .

What did you get up to ?
What did you get up to ?
What did you get up to ?

Confuse the hell out of your students !
Good luck !
[/b]

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Yeah, it's a pretty lousy expression. I'd forget about it OP and concentrate more on more common phrases and word choices - - in my opinion, of course!