1886. MacDonald What's Mine's Mine, 283. Come, Mercy, you are up to a climb I'm sure.
1886. Daily News, 14 Oct. Streets that are up.
1887. Standard, 18 Oct. When Fordham was up those who were interested in a horse's success felt confident.
1892. Kipling, Barrack-room. Ballads. 'Tommy.' The publican 'e up an' sez, 'We serve no Red-coats here.'
1898. Whiteing, John Street, viii. You don't know! You shouldn't argue if you ain't up to things like that. Ibid., xxiii. 'What's up now?' says my myte as was standing guard over me with a cutlash.
2. (Harrow).—In school. To be up at second school = to go to any one for work at 10 or 11 o'clock.
To tie up, verb. phr. (venery).—To get with child, impregnate, sew up (q.v.). Also to be up (or up one's frills, or petticoats) = to be piled in the act.
Up-a-daisa (or Ups-a-daisy),
intj. (nursery).—Used in 'baby-jumping.'
Up-and-down, subs. phr. (colloquial).—1.
Usually in pl. =
the events of life, vicissitudes of
fortune, alternate good and bad
luck. As adj. = plain, downright,
positive. As adv. = (1) thorough,
completely, in every respect,
down to the ground (q.v.);
(2) = bluntly, brutally (q.v.);
and (3) = without favour, justly.
1542. Udal, Erasmus's Apophth., 324. He [Phocion] was euen Socrates vp and downe in this pointe and behalfe, that no man euer sawe hym either laughe or weepe.
1620. Middleton, Chaste Maid, iii. 2. The mother's month, up and down, up and down.
1759. Goldsmith, Bee, No. 3. Every man who . . . has had his ups and downs in life . . . must have frequently experienced the truth of this doctrine.
d. 1797. Walpole, Letters, ii. 464. A mixture . . . all ups that should be downs.
1857. Locker, Piccadilly. Life is chequer'd; a patchwork of smiles and of frowns; We value its ups, let us muse on its downs.
1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 240. Talk about coddling! it's little we get o' that, the way the Lord fixes things in this world. . . . He's pretty up and down with us by all they tell us. Ibid., 291. Miss Debby was a well-preserved, up-and-down, positive, cheery, sprightly lady.
1884. Milliken [Punch, 11 Oct.], Arry at a Political Picnic.' Went to one on 'em yesterday, Charlie; a regular old up and down lark.
Up and down place, subs. phr. (tailors').—A shop where a cutter-out is expected to fill up his time sewing.
See Ups and Downs, post.
Uphill, subs. (Old Cant).—In pl. =
dice loaded to cast high numbers:
cf. lowmen (B. E. and Grose).
Adj. (old colloquial).—Difficult, severe, against collar (q.v.).—Grose. Hence (2) = hampered.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa. What an uphill labour must it be to be a learner.
1881. Stevenson, Virginibus Puerisque, iv. These will be uphill intimacies, without charm or freedom to the end.
1885. D. Teleg., 1 Sep. Our Government is engaged in a very uphill task.
Upon. See Cross; Say-so;
Sivvy; Square; Snib.
Upper. Down on one's uppers,
phr. (common).—Poor, hard-up
(q.v.) broke (q.v.).
1900. Flynt, Tramps, 117. I'se been a moocher, an' now I's skatin' on me uppers.
