be on the up and up

be on the up and up

1. To be honest and respectable. If your behavior isn't on the up and up, no one here will trust you.

2. To be increasingly successful. I'm investing in that company because it's on the up and up these days.

See also: and, on, up

on the up and up

Often hyphenated as "on the up-and-up."

1. Strictly honest, respectable, and strait-laced. Primarily heard in US. If your behavior isn't on the up and up, no one here will trust you. Don't bother trying to bribe him—he's the only politician in this city who's on the up-and-up.

2. Becoming increasingly successful. Investors are jumping on board after a number of financial analysts predicted that the company's stock was on the up and up. Wow, another promotion? Sarah's really on the up-and-up these days, isn't she?

See also: and, on, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

on the up and up

AMERICAN

If a person or an activity is on the up and up it is honest or legal. We'd like to know where the money came from. It may have been on the up-and-up. I'm an old man and I'm a pretty good judge of men. If you're honest and on the up and up, I'll be able to tell it.

See also: and, on, up

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

on the up and up

1 steadily improving. informal 2 honest or sincere. informal, chiefly North American

See also: and, on, up

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

on the ˌup and ˈup

(informal)
1 (British English) getting better, becoming more successful, etc: Her health is on the up and up. Soon she’ll be out of hospital. ♢ Business is on the up and up.
2 (American English) honest: Before we give him the job, are you sure he’s on the up and up?

See also: and, on, up

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

on the up and up

Honest, frank, and sincere; legitimate. Literally this term makes little sense; why should “higher and higher” mean open and aboveboard? One writer speculates that something that is “up” can be clearly seen. Despite unclear analogy, the term has been around since the mid-nineteenth century, mainly in America. Dashiell Hammett used it in Red Harvest (1929): “He phoned . . . to find out if the check was on the up and up.”

See also: and, on, up

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer