fall up
C1 informal intransitive
In simple words
To trip going up (like on stairs), or to accidentally get better results than expected.
Literal meaning: To fall in an upward direction — physically paradoxical, which is part of its humorous appeal.
Meanings
1 C1 informal
To trip or stumble while moving upward, especially on stairs.
"I managed to fall up the stairs again — my coffee didn't survive."
2 C1
idiomatic
informal
To advance or succeed despite making mistakes or failing in conventional ways.
"He kept falling up — every blunder seemed to land him a better job."
Usage notes
Extremely rare and non-standard. Mostly used humorously or as a creative reversal of 'fall down.' In American slang, 'falling up' can describe someone who keeps getting promoted despite incompetence.
Commonly used with
stairs ladder career success stumble
Forms
Base
fall up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
falls up
he/she/it
Past simple
fell up
yesterday
Past participle
fallen up
have + pp
-ing form
falling up
continuous
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Synonyms
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