SHOW UP and SHOW SOMEONE UP

If someone shows up, they arrive for an event or appointment.

 e.g. “Around 2,000 people showed up to watch the Scot struggle against the world number one.”

 (In this context, the phrasal verb “to show up” has no object.)


 However, to show someone (including yourself) up involves embarrassing them (or you) and/or exposing faults.

 e.g. “Sothern was jailed on Friday for four years at Liverpool Crown Court where revelations of his criminal past showed him up as a serial conman.”

 e.g. “Mr Missentzis said he and Mr Christensen wanted to get some revenge on the Australians, who showed them up at the Perth Motorplex at the weekend.”

 (In this context, the phrasal verb “to show up” does have an object.)


 Photo credit: Alasdair Massie