Whats the correct usage of the phrases "come down", "come up", "go down", "go up". ( Not in idiomatic sense).

Question

I hear and read sentences like " We went down to florida" or "Went up to florida", then " The food court is further down from here" or " The food court is further up from here". So i get really confused when to say "up" and when to say "down".

Answer 1

come down = approach (the speaker) from a higher place
"Hey, New Yorker, come down to Florida!"

come up = approach (the speaker) from a lower place
"Hey, Floridian, come up to Brooklyn!"

go down = go below the current location
(I'm in CT, we 'go down' to Florida because it's south of us)

go up = go above the current location
('Snow Birds' go up to CT by July 'cuz it's just too hot in FL!)

As to where the food court is, it'd depend on which way the direction-giver is facing. If the food court has yet to be passed, it's further down the way.
If the direction-giver has already eaten and is now in front of the record store, he'd point over his shoulder and say "It's further up that way."
Probably 'cuz it's harder to go to a food court than it is to leave one....

Answer 2

If you want someone to join you, you say, 'come' as in come up and see me, or come down to my place.
If you are giving someone directions, you say, "go up North to I-5 and then turn left", or "Go down the Baja penninsula".
It's a question of whether you are directing them to come closer to you, or whether you are giving directions to some other place.
Again, up and down are usually geographic references. If you are almost anywhere in the US, you would go down to Florida, because you are heading towards the equator. As far as the food court is concerned, down is away from you (as in down that corridor) and up is toward you. At least, that's a generalization.
In fact, it often seems to be something that is governed by local usage.

Answer 3

Up or down should refer to North or South, so that someone in NY could go down to Florida but a person would have to be in Cuba or another further south spot to say they were going up to Florida.

Going down is another story.

Answer 4

Depending on where you are. I live in Florida so if I went up to Georiga, I would be going up north
Or if I went down to Miami, that's South of me, so I would say I am going down to Miami.
People are just lose with terminology these days.

Answer 5

Usually "Come Down" and "Come Up" signify motion TOWARDS, while "Go Down" and "Go Up" mean motion AWAY from the speaker. As far as "went up to Florida", how was the boat ride, Mr Castro? ; )

Answer 6

the first question has been answered for you (places it is North or South).

the food court situation, it has to do with direction. if you're headed one direction and someone asks you where the food court is, you would say "it's either further up" or "back over there."

for "come up" and "come down" it has to do with height. eg, you come down from that tree! please come up to the fourth floor (the person saying this is already at the fourth floor).

for "go down" and "go up" it's more for commands. eg, go down and get me the vacuum cleaner quickly! please go up and straighten your bed now!

hope these examples helped :D

Answer 7

Just different English words that's all.