one up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To do something a little better than someone else to show that you're ahead.
Literal meaning: To be one point up (ahead) of someone — from scoring in games.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To gain a social or competitive advantage over someone by doing something slightly better or more impressive.
"She bought an even bigger television just to one-up her neighbour."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To respond to someone's story or achievement with a better or more extreme one of your own.
"Every time I tell a travel story, he tries to one-up me with somewhere more exotic."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Often implies a competitive or slightly petty attitude. Derived from games where scoring one point more than an opponent wins. Commonly hyphenated as 'one-up someone'. Very common in casual American English.
Commonly used with
rival colleague friend sibling neighbour boss
Forms
Base
one up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ones up
he/she/it
Past simple
oned up
yesterday
Past participle
oned up
have + pp
-ing form
oning up
continuous
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