sit-up

[sit-uhp]

noun

1. an exercise in which a person lies flat on the back, lifts the torso to a sitting position, and then lies flat again without changing the position of the legs: formerly done with the legs straight but now usually done with the knees bent.

sit up

verb

1. to raise (oneself or another) from a recumbent to an upright or alert sitting posture

2. (intr) to remain out of bed and awake, esp until a late hour

3. informal,  (intr) to become suddenly interested or alert

   devaluation of the dollar made the money market sit up

noun

1. Also: trunk curl. a physical exercise in which the body is brought into a sitting position from one lying on the back

Word History and Origins

Origin of sit up¹

First recorded in 1835–45; noun use of verb phrase sit up

Idioms and Phrases

Rise to a sitting position from lying down, as in The sick child sat up and asked for a drink of water . [Early 1200s]

Stay up later than usual, as in The nurse sat up with her all night long . [Mid-1500s]

Sit with the spine erect, as in She was always telling the students to sit up . [Early 1700s]

Become suddenly alert, as in The students sat up when he brought up the test . The same sense appears in the related sit up and take notice , as in When he mentioned the arrival of a movie star, they all sat up and took notice . [Late 1800s]

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