one up

¹

adjective

1. having gained an advantage in some way that betokens success, especially over rivals.

2. leading an opponent by one point or one scoring unit.

   The home team was one up on the visitors.

3. one each; tied at a score of one.

   The score was one up in the ninth inning.

adverb

1. Printing.,  with only one reproduction of a form per sheet or on a given sheet.

   We must print this job one up.

2. Journalism.,  using one more column of space than of type.

one-up

²

[wuhn-uhp]

verb (used with object)

one-upped, one-upping 

1. to get the better of; succeed in being a point, move, step, etc., ahead of (someone).

   They one-upped the competition.

one-up

adjective

1. informal,  having or having scored an advantage or lead over someone or something

Word History and Origins

Origin of one up¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Origin of one up²

First recorded in 1960–65

Idioms and Phrases

Having an advantage or lead over someone, as in Sara is one up on Jane because she passed algebra in summer school. This expression comes from sports, where it means to be one point ahead of one's opponents. It was transferred to more general use about 1920.

Example Sentences

Miami hasn’t been perfect, but the Dolphins have more playmakers and should be able to pick one up on the road.

From Los Angeles Times

Jon Rahm finds the hole from the rough next to the eighth green to put himself and Tyrell Hatton one up in their foresome match against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.

From BBC

“But in this case, what’s the purpose? It’s like someone breaks my window, and then they put a new one up.”

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes I’ll pick one up if I need a break.

From Los Angeles Times

But if you don't happen to have a Sega Mega Drive or Nintendo GameCube packed away in the attic, you can pick one up for very little.

From BBC