Up to here
/ʌp tu hɪr/
B1
Definition
The phrase "up to here" means reaching a certain point or limit, either physically or in feelings. People often use it to say they have had enough of a problem or situation, meaning they cannot accept it any longer. It can also describe how far something goes or extends.
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⚡ See It in Action
Expressing a limit of tolerance or patience
- •I'm up to here with all this noise; please be quiet.
- •She's up to here with his bad behavior.
- •We're up to here with waiting; let's leave.
Describing how far something extends physically or in quantity
- •The water was up to here on my leg.
- •The snow reached up to here on the door.
- •The pile of books was up to here on the table.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "up to here" like "until now," but with a clear limit or end point—like a line you can't cross
- ✓Picture a glass filled with water up to a certain mark on the side—no more water can go in without spilling
- ✓It's the feeling when you say, "I am tired of this!"—you have reached your limit of patience or tolerance
- ✓Sounds like "up two here" → imagine pointing your hand up to your neck or head to show how much you can take
- ✓Imagine someone holding their hand at their chest or neck and saying "up to here" to show how much trouble they have had
- ✓NOT like "a little" (small amount), "up to here" means a big amount or limit reached
- ✓NOT like "beyond" (past the limit), "up to here" means stopping exactly at the limit
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Fed up: feeling tired or annoyed because of too much of something (Use when talking about emotions or patience)
- •To this point: describing a physical or time limit reached (Use when talking about distance or time, more formal)
- •As far as: describing extent or limit (Use when talking about physical or abstract limits)
- •Tired of: feeling bored or annoyed with something (Use in emotional contexts)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Phrase parts: "up" (direction upward) + "to" (indicating limit) + "here" (this place or point)
- •Etymology: English phrase combining simple words to express reaching a point or limit
- •Historical development: Used in English for a long time to describe physical height or emotional limits
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in everyday speech to show limits in emotions or physical extent
💭 Reflect & Connect
•When have you felt "up to here" with a problem or situation in your own life?
•How can the phrase "up to here" help you express limits clearly in different situations?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.I am up to here with all the noise; I can't ___ it anymore.
2.The water was up to here on my leg, so I had to ___ quickly.
3.She's up to here with waiting and wants to ___ now.
4.When he said he was up to here, he showed with his hand ___ how much he had.
5.The snow was up to here on the door, which means it reached ___ the door.
6.If you are up to here with a problem, it means you have no more ___ for it.
7.We can't go any further because the river is up to here, so we must ___ here.