up to no good

Idioms

see up to, def. 3.

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.

Mr Rosenberg said the attacker, named by police as Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, appeared to be "up to no good" so was asked to leave.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025

Thanks to the late Ian Holm’s face being digitally superimposed over that of Daniel Betts, we’re primed to recognize that Rook is up to no good.

From Salon • Aug. 26, 2024

The Georgia legislature recognized that people who are up to no good can abuse our citizens’ security and the public order just as gravely while wearing a business suit.

From Slate • Aug. 15, 2023

“But to them it’s suspicious that you’re up to no good or you’re doing something that you shouldn’t be doing.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2023

Some people think they're up to no good, that they're wasting their time.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

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