up to snuff
Wide awake, knowing, sharp; not easily taken in or imposed upon.
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up to somebody
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
up to something
involved in a secret or possibly dishonest activity
up to speed
Having the necessary knowledge or skills to perform a task
up to the eyes
Wholly, completely; as up to the eyes in work, very fully occupied, mortgaged up to the eyes, to the last penny obtainable.
up to the hub
completely or utterly
up to the hub
Fully, entirely, as far as gossible. If a cart sinks in the mud up to the ub, it can sink no lower; if a man is thrust through with a sword up to the hub, the entire sword has passed through him; and if a quoit strikes the hub, it is not possible to do better.
up to the mark
Generally used in the negative; as, "Not quite up to the mark," not good enough, not up to the standard fixed by the assay office for gold and silver articles; not quite well.
up to their gossip
To be a match for one who attempts to cheat or deceive; to be on a footing, or in the secret. I'll be up with him; I will repay him in kind.
up with the chickens
To wake up very early in the morning
up with the larks
To wake up early in the morning
Upas Tree
The Javanese tree, Antiaris toxicana, the milky juice of which contains a virulent poison and is used for tipping arrows.
uphill battle
A difficult or futile effort
uphills
False dice that run high.
upon my word
Assuredly; by my troth. "Upon my word and honour! A strong affirmation of the speaker as to the truth of what he has asserted.
upon the instant
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
upon the tapis
Under consideration or discussion
upper benjamin
Or BENJY, a great coat; originally "Joseph," but, because of the preponderance of tailors named BENJAMIN, altered in deference to them.
upper crust
The highest social class
upper hand
An advantage or position of control over someone or something
Upper Nubia
The monarch of Ethiopia styles himself Emperor, King of Kings, Con- quering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of
upper storey
The head or brain, especially in relation to thinking or mental activity
upping block
[Called in some counties a leaping stock, in others a jossing block.] Steps for mounting a horse. He sits like a toad on a jossing block; said of one who sits ungracefully on horseback.
uppish
Testy, apt to take offence.
upright
Go upright; a word used by shoemakers, taylors and their servants, when any money is given to make them drink, and signifies, Bring it all out in liquor, though the donor intended less, and expects change, or some of his money, to be returned. Three-penny upright. See THREEPENNY UPRIGHT,
ups and downs
Experiences of good and bad fortune or success
ups and downs
The twists and turns of fortune; one's successes and reverses.
Upset Price
The price at which goods sold by auction are first offered for competition. If no advance is made they fall to the person who made the unset price. Reserved bid is virtually the same thing.
upset the applecart
To spoil or disrupt a plan or situation
upstarts
Persons lately raised to honours and riches from mean stations.
uptown and downtown
referring to two distinct areas of a city
urban fabric
The physical and social structure of a city
urchin
A child, a little fellow; also a hedgehog.
urinal of the planets
Ireland: so called from the frequent rains in that island.
urp
To vomit.
Ursa Minor
The Little Bear; the northern constellation known also as Cynosura, or "Dog's tail,'* from its circular sweep.
use a sledgehammer to crack a nut
To use excessive force to accomplish something simple
use in anger
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
use it or lose it
If you don't use something, you will lose the ability or opportunity to use it.
use one's head
Think carefully and make a decision
use one's loaf
To think.
use one's noggin
To think carefully and use one's intelligence
used to
accustomed to something
used up
Killed: a military saying, originating from a message sent by the late General Guise, on the expedition at Carthagena, where he desired the commander in chief to order him some more grenadiers, for those he had were all used up.
used up
Broken-hearted, bankrupt, fatigued, vanquished.
useless as teats on a boar hog
Completely useless or without purpose
Ut de Justice
Properly the seat occupied by the French king when he attended the deliberations of his parlement\ hence, the session itself, any arbitrary edict. As the members derived their power from the king, when the king was present their power returned to the fountain-head, and the king was arbitrary. What he then proposed could not be controverted, and had the force of law. The last /// de justice was held by Louis XVI in 1787.
uterine cancer
a type of cancer that occurs in the uterus
Utter and Inner Barristers
An utter or outer barrister means (in some cases at least) a full-fledged barrister, one licensed to practise. An inner barrister means a student.
uxter
Money.
Uốn cây từ thuở còn non
Teach children good habits when they are young
Uốn tre uốn thuở còn măng
Teach children good habits when they are young
uốn éo trăm chiều
To be extremely flexible or adaptable
uống mặt gấu
to eat or drink without paying
uống nước không chừa cặn
Be grateful for what you have
uống nước nhớ nguồn
uống hộ.
uống rượu không say, như vay chẳng giả
Borrowing without intention to repay
uống rượu ngồi dai
to indulge in something enjoyable without worrying about consequences
uống rượu ngồi dai, dái mài xuống đất
Drinking leads to loss of dignity
uống trè tầu, ngồi trường kỷ
to enjoy wealth and comfort without having worked for it