big up

British

verb

slang (tr, adverb) to make important, prominent, or famous

we'll do our best to big you up

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A battle-hardened Test centurion with five Six Nations titles to his name, O'Mahony also knew better than to big up Ireland's chances with three games still remaining.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2025

“People in the neighboring buildings hustled outside with their pets and kids. I’ve never seen a fire that big up close like that.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 26, 2024

“We emphasized here in the past building it big up front, running it downhill, having a big backfield, being physical,” Longo said.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2023

“So we need to know who’s in the game and when they’re in the game and the situation up front. They’re really big up front, and they’re a really good offensive line.”

From Washington Post • Oct. 7, 2021

I had never seen an actual world globe this big up close and personal, much less had one of my own.

From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023