up before somebody/something

*up before someone

Fig. standing in front of someone to receive something. (Especially in front of a judge. *Typically: be ~; come ~; stand ~.) Have you been up before me before? I have never been up before any judge.

See also: before, up

up before somebody/something

appearing in front of somebody in authority for a judgement to be made about something that you have done: He came up before the local magistrate for speeding.

See also: before, somebody, something, up