upstairs

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be kicked upstairs

To be promoted to a higher role or position in a company that has little actual responsibility or authority. John was kicked upstairs to an assistant manager position so he would stop griping about his pay.

See also: kick, upstairs

go upstairs

1. Literally, to climb steps to reach a higher level of a building. A: "Where's Susie?" B: "Oh, she went upstairs to bed." When you go upstairs, can you take the laundry basket with you?

2. To go to someone higher in a hierarchy, like one's boss, to seek their authority for a decision or other purpose. I'd go upstairs with that request—we don't have the authority to sign off on something like that.

kick (one) upstairs

To promote one to a higher role or position in a company that has little actual responsibility or authority. They kicked John upstairs to an assistant manager position so he would stop griping about his pay.

See also: kick, upstairs

the Man Upstairs

A lighthearted name for the Judeo-Christian god. (Not always capitalized.) I doubt the Man Upstairs will approve of this, but I don't see any other way of getting this project finished. I only worry about what the man upstairs will think of my actions; no one else's opinion really matters.

nothing upstairs

Fig. no brains; stupid. Tom is sort of stupid. You know—nothing upstairs. I know what's wrong with you. Nothing upstairs.

kick upstairs

Promote someone to a higher but less desirable position, especially one with less authority. For example, Paul never forgave the company for kicking him upstairs at age 55. This expression alludes to its antonym, kick downstairs, simply meaning "eject." [Mid-1900s]

See also: kick, upstairs

kick someone upstairs

BRITISH

If you kick someone upstairs, you give them a job or position which seems to have a higher status but actually has less power, in order to reduce their influence. Peter Greenall becomes managing director succeeding Andrew Thomas, who is kicked upstairs to become deputy chairman. The radicals kicked him upstairs to the then ceremonial job of president.

kick someone upstairs

remove someone from an influential position in a business by giving them an ostensible promotion. informal

the Man Upstairs

God. informal humorous

ˌkick somebody upˈstairs

(informal) move somebody to a job that seems to be more important but which actually has less power or influence: They couldn’t sack him, so they kicked him upstairs onto the board of directors, where he could do less damage.

nothing upstairs

phr. no brains; stupid. Tom is sort of stupid acting. You know—nothing upstairs. I know what’s wrong with you. Nothing upstairs.

kick upstairs

Slang

To promote to a higher yet less desirable position.

See also: kick, upstairs

References in classic literature ?

He had scarcely got outside the door, when he heard Wardle's voice talking loudly, and looking over the banisters beheld him, followed by some other gentlemen, coming straight upstairs.

The wine came, and Perker came upstairs at the same moment.

View in context

My mother was so much worse that Peggotty, coming in with the teaboard and candles, and seeing at a glance how ill she was, - as Miss Betsey might have done sooner if there had been light enough, - conveyed her upstairs to her own room with all speed; and immediately dispatched Ham Peggotty, her nephew, who had been for some days past secreted in the house, unknown to my mother, as a special messenger in case of emergency, to fetch the nurse and doctor.

The doctor having been upstairs and come down again, and having satisfied himself, I suppose, that there was a probability of this unknown lady and himself having to sit there, face to face, for some hours, laid himself out to be polite and social.

Chillip could do nothing after this, but sit and look at her feebly, as she sat and looked at the fire, until he was called upstairs again.

View in context

There are two flats above the takeaway and initial reports suggested someone could be trapped upstairs.

Brave dad tackles blaze at takeaway

well-publicized struggles and the melding of the upstairs and downstairs

Consumers eye flatware in a new light

Jane Wilkin from Gateshead who was stuck in a through floor lift A WOMAN with a wasting muscle condition was trapped in her home lift for four hours - and then stuck upstairs for five days.

Trapped in her own home for five days

He has compulsive "checking behaviour" because of his autism, so he rushes upstairs to find them.

BOXED IN; DAD'S FIGHT TO HELP SON SLEEP AT NIGHT Autistic Zac's scared in tiny room but council won't help

Simon Saxton-Cooper, 50, and wife Shelley, 45, were asleep upstairs when the blast tore through their detached home, shortly after 7.

Couple die in gas blast

day Mum didn't get dressed, Dad called her a 'wild thing' and she stropped off upstairs for a sulk in the bath.

READ IT THE

Thursday, Day of Kindness, Farmer's Market Building, upstairs.

COMMUNITY

The pair died from smoke inhalation in an upstairs room and are survived by Danny and the couple's older daughter, Danielle, who had been on a night out when the tragedy struck.

Chip pan fire cost two lives

The best seats on a Boeing 777 might not be at the pointy end of the plane, they could in fact be the 'secret' bunk beds nestled upstairs above the economy section.

The best seats on a Boeing 777 are the crew bunk beds

The event, Club Monte Cristo, will be hosted by Upstairs Downstairs, Adliya, from 9pm.

New theme at Up and Down

CITE

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