be/get/have one up on somebody

be one up on (someone or something)

To have an advantage over someone or something. I think I'm one up on the other candidates for this position, thanks to my extensive student teaching experience. You know about his mother's vast wealth and influence, don't you? Yeah, he's always been one up on his peers. Our competitors are always trying to overtake us in the market, but, with an innovation like this, we'll be one up on them!

See also: on, one, up

get one up on (someone or something)

To attain an advantage over someone or something. I'm trying to get one up on the competition by practicing in real-world conditions. Our competitors are always trying to overtake us in the market, but we'll get one up on them with an innovation like this! I got one up on everyone else when the boss singled me out for praise at this week's department meeting.

See also: get, on, one, up

have one up on (someone or something)

To have an advantage over someone or something. I hope I have one up on the competition with my extensive student teaching experience. You know about his mother's vast wealth and influence, don't you? Yeah, he's always had one up on his peers. Our competitors are always trying to overtake us in the market, but, with an innovation like this, we'll have one up on them!

See also: have, on, one, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be/get/have one ˈup on somebody

(informal) be in a better position than somebody; have an advantage over somebody: Why do you always have to be one up on everybody else? ▶ one-ˈupmanship noun (disapproving) the skill of getting an advantage over other people

See also: get, have, on, one, somebody, up

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017