Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2021 October 27

= October 27 =

Dialog doubt from The Suicide Squad (film)
A doctor speaks about a recovering patient:


 * Doctor: I wasn't certain how safe it was, shipping him back here. But, if anything, he's shown he's resilient. It'll take some surgery, but eventually we'll get him back up to speed.

What does "get him back up to speed" mean? I find "bring someone up to speed" means "to give someone all the latest information about something", but here context is about medical, so how to understand this phrase? Rizosome (talk) 05:57, 27 October 2021 (UTC)
 * The term is a broad metaphor for returning someone or something back to their usual, or expected, or required level of good repair, health or performance, and can have different specific meanings in different circumstances.
 * The "latest information" meaning is used whan someone needs the information in order to perform a job or function properly. In the case of this doctor, however, he is talking about someone unwell (probably due to injury, from the reference to surgery) who he (and others) will help to heal so that they can once again do whatever they are intended to do. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.200.65.29 (talk) 07:24, 27 October 2021 (UTC)


 * In this case, it means back to normal (i.e. healthy). Clarityfiend (talk) 07:25, 27 October 2021 (UTC)
 * The Cambridge Dictionary definition of "up to speed" is "performing at a desirable level" and gives as an example, "It took me a while to get up to speed after the flu." Clarityfiend (talk) 07:30, 27 October 2021 (UTC)