Home North American English on the up and up

Definition of on the up and up in US English:

on the up and up

phrase

informal

  • 1North American Honest or sincere.

    • ‘I repeat, the guy in charge of making sure all government contracts are on the up and up just got arrested for corruption.’
    • ‘The box never mentions this is a fake program, and there is little to show you it's not on the up and up.’
    • ‘Call me crazy, but this doesn't seem all on the up and up.’
    • ‘But assuming you do work out a way that you get paid, you do pay taxes, and everything you do is either on the up and up, or at least slips by the notice of anyone that would care.’
    • ‘This will breathe a breath of fresh air into the moribund political and government system, and force them to be more on the up and up.’
    • ‘If the Rebels are really on the up and up, why do they associate with criminals like Solo?’
    • ‘Try to be on the up and up with people because that's going to be your blessing right there.’
    • ‘The company is in the process of setting up a privacy board that includes a prominent Stanford law professor and cyberlaw expert, to make sure that everything's on the up and up.’
    • ‘One should not confuse the former with the latter since as far as I know the latter is totally on the up and up and doesn't spam people in order to increase their userbase.’
    promising, budding, rising, coming, on the up and up, in the making, with potential, likely to succeed
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  • 2British Steadily improving or becoming more successful.

    • ‘He came out of hospital and was on the up and up, until foot and mouth struck all around us.’
    • ‘Supported by her husband Niall, the business has been on the up and up over the last number of years.’
    • ‘The standard of play right across the board in Super League is on the up and up all the time’
    • ‘Citing injuries and a dip in form with key players, he is amiable but firm as he insists that things are on the up and up.’
    • ‘This is yet another indication that Bradford is on the up and up.’
    • ‘Wexford football has been on the up and up for some time now.’
    • ‘Bob Downe is certainly on the up and up, because when you are Downe, there ain't no mountain high enough!’
    • ‘Once again that jackpot is on the up and up and now stands at 2400.’
    • ‘Oh yes, things seemed to be on the up and up for the Pack.’
    • ‘Despite dropping down a division to ply his trade, he insists he remains on the up and up.’
    prosperous, affluent, wealthy, rich, well-to-do, doing well, moneyed
    flourishing, thriving, booming, buoyant, burgeoning, doing well, profitable, profit-making, moneymaking, lucrative, gainful, fruitful, solvent, bankable
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