Phrasal verb mysteries and minced oath origins. Night water.
Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.
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Slow Down and Slow Up
The Oxford English Dictionary defines slow down as to cause something to move or operate more slowly. The OED provides examples of both phrases dating back to the mid-1800s, which is relatively recent in linguistic terms. Both usages first appeared in the United States and had almost equal usage until 1900.
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