notch up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To get or win something, like a point or a record.
Literal meaning: To carve a notch upward on a tally stick — historically used to record scores.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To achieve a win, record, or score, especially in sport or competition.
"The team notched up their fifth consecutive victory last Saturday."
""They have notched up an extraordinary sequence of results.""
— The Guardian, sports section (general attribution, widely attested phrasing)
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To accumulate a number or total of something over time.
"By the end of the tour, the band had notched up over two million ticket sales."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Common in sports journalism and business contexts. Slightly more British than American. The metaphor comes from cutting notches in a stick to keep score.
Commonly used with
win victory record point goal success achievement
Forms
Base
notch up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
notches up
he/she/it
Past simple
notched up
yesterday
Past participle
notched up
have + pp
-ing form
notching up
continuous
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