upswing
Words nearby upswing
MORE ABOUT UPSWING
What does on the upswing mean?
Where does on the upswing come from?
The term upswing is first recorded in reference to golf, describing the part of a golf swing where one brings the club up over their head before the downswing to strike the ball.
Evidence for the word upswing dates back to at least the 1920s. It quickly became an effective visual metaphor for “upward movement,” especially when starting from a poor or middling state (e.g., Trade and stock prices are on the upswing). This usage, including the specific phrase on the upswing, is found in the 1930s, likely corresponding to economic activity during the Great Depression.
Upswing has been expanded to mean any “increase” (e.g., We’re seeing an upswing in visitors to a website). This upswing is likely influenced by a similar word, uptick.
From economics, on the upswing spread to a whole range of contexts, including “improvements” in personal circumstances like physical or emotional health.
The band Bell X1 released a track “The Upswing” in 2016, featuring the chorus: “‘Cause baby one little push from you / Got me on the upswing / Even without trying to / Got me on the upswing.” That is, the singer is doing better and better.
How is on the upswing used in real life?
On the upswing is particularly common in economic discussions to describe trading, companies, prices, profits, or even whole economies that are trending upward in activity, value, strength, and health.
5 ways #manufacturing is on the upswing in Dayton again https://t.co/p7wJAQTZWo
— HEAT LLC (@heatllc) November 16, 2018
Outside economics, on the upswing is commonly and widely used in any number of other contexts to describe things that are getting bigger, better, and stronger from a weakened or reduced state.
Poetry reading is on the upswing (opinion) https://t.co/gKQoidLPUa
— The Poetry Society (@PoetrySociety) November 21, 2018
Giants-Eagles first look: Surprisingly, it’s the Giants on the upswing – https://t.co/WygI5g9sRO pic.twitter.com/nqPkDkb8y7
— Big Blue United (@BigBlueUnited) November 21, 2018
On the upswing (health-wise). Not out of the woods yet, though.
— Cam Makovichuk (@cammakovichuk) May 11, 2010
A downswing is used for the opposite of an upswing, or a “decline.”