one up

Use One up in a sentence

noun

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:
1920–25

00:10

One up is always a great word to know.

So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Dictionary.com Unabridged

verb (used with object), one-upped, one-up·ping.

to get the better of; succeed in being a point, move, step, etc., ahead of (someone): They one-upped the competition.

Origin:
1960–65

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source

Link To one up

Collins

World English Dictionary

one-up

—*adj*
	informal having or having scored an advantage or lead over someone or something

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

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.

Example sentences

Order an artefact from a virtual stockroom or simply dream one up.

Each accomplishment only lifts one up to a new baseline of expectations.

If you cannot find the source of a quote, make one up.

She even picked one up and began playing with its tongue.

Remove ads like these. Upgrade now!

Matching Quote

"Is it the old, legendary monster of my father's time? Or am I supposed to have whipped one up, as a housewife whips up an omelette?"

-Willis Cooper