one up
having gained an advantage in some way that betokens success, especially over rivals.
leading an opponent by one point or one scoring unit: The home team was one up on the visitors.
one each; tied at a score of one: The score was one up in the ninth inning.
Printing. with only one reproduction of a form per sheet or on a given sheet: We must print this job one up.
Journalism. using one more column of space than of type.
Origin of one up
1Words Nearby one up
Other definitions for one-up (2 of 2)
to get the better of; succeed in being a point, move, step, etc., ahead of (someone): They one-upped the competition.
Origin of one-up
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use one up in a sentence
Will the Kleig lights now shining on Sam move them to one-up him as the first?
Will Today’s Closeted NFL Stars Let Michael Sam Be the First Out Player? | Evin Demirel | February 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWith millions of bucks on the line, advertisers aim to one-up each other with the funniest, most memorable spots.
What the GOP Can Learn from the NFL’s Outreach to Women | Kristen Soltis Anderson | January 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTPF: There was a point after Me, Myself and Irene that we seemed to have to one-up ourselves and we didn't want to do that.
Interview With Hall Pass Directors Farrelly Brothers | Chris Lee | February 22, 2011 | THE DAILY BEASTBoth he and Roubini strutted their stuff in Davos in January, trying to one-up each other with ever-more-dire forecasts.
Well, my wife, you know, seems to think it might put me one-up with the jolly old dad if I did something.
Indiscretions of Archie | P. G. Wodehouse
British Dictionary definitions for one-up
informal having or having scored an advantage or lead over someone or something
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with one up
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.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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