out and about—
1. moving about to different places:
- “Did you spend much time at your hotel?” “No we did not. Most of the time we were out and about.”
2. well enough to go out (after an illness):
- When you’re out and about again, you must come and visit us.
up and about—
1. = out and about 2:
- “Hunter is completely better,” he said. “He’s up and about again.”
2. out of bed; moving about:
- She was up and about, brisk as a bee, before sunrise every morning.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase up about something—(coll.) enthusiastic or excited about smth.:
- He was very up about his job (in the CBS studio mailroom) and people in general.