get one up on (someone or something)

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

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

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