Software programmers are gearing up to build applications for the newest version of Windows Phone 7.
It seems the 'gear up' in here means 'ready'. So why not use 'ready' and what's the difference with 'ready'?
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Sign up to join this communityYes, gear up is synonymous with ready. But then, ready is also synonymous with prepare… “Gear up” has some implications that you will be readying your equipment (your gear), though it can also be used figuratively.
All in all, I don't see a big difference between these uses of gear up, ready and prepare.
Gearing up means getting ready:
To get ready for a coming action or event
In addition to the other answers, I perceive "gear up" to also imply a certain level of excitement, so that the programmers are also excited about the project. Compare the sentence
Software programmers are gearing up to build applications for the newest version of Windows Phone 7.
with
Software programmers are preparing to build applications for the newest version of Windows Phone 7.
Readying is to be used in place of 'gearing up' as per your question, and the sentence will be
Software programmers are readying to build applications for the newest version of Windows Phone 7.
I don't find it alright and with a little help from OED, I'd like to explain.
From OED:
verb (readies, readying, readied)
[with object] prepare for an action or purpose:
the spare transformer was readied for shipment
[with object and infinitive] :
she readied herself to speak first
So, as I see it, the word ready can be used as a verb only in the above two cases and in the sentence you quoted, ready can replace gearing up if it takes 'themselves' as object. Then the sentence will be,
Software programmers are readying themselves to build applications for the newest version of Windows Phone 7.
But, I think usage of gearing up here will be more positive and beautiful. Choice of words plays a very important role in conveying the meaning to the readers as well as capturing their minds. Gearing up is an apt choice here.
Using "ready" as an intransitive verb sounds awkward to me:
programmers are readying themselves to...
sounds ok, but
programmers are readying to...
does not. In addition, "gearing up" is computer lingo, along with "spooling up", "spinning up", "firing up", ...
No, they are not synonymous. If programmers are gearing up to do this, it means they are actively working on preparations. If they're ready, they may simply be sitting around waiting for a beta release of WP7. Being ready is not the same as making ready.
ready
as verb here right?