up and
phrase
informal
: to do something specified in a sudden and unexpected way
(U.S.) One day, he just up and left home.
Then she ups and marries some guy she'd just met.
One day, he just upped and left home.
Examples of up and in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These variations are common, as the heart rate tends to speed up and get more regular during periods of stress, and become slower and allow more irregularity when relaxed.
—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
5 July 2026
But work, starting a family and following Leicester up and down the country prevented him from fulfilling that World Cup dream.
—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
5 July 2026
The Catalan conquistador led the first mainland expedition of Europeans up and down what’s now California.
—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2026
Plus, minimal prep means less clean-up and more time to relax and actually enjoy your food.
—
Rachel Cortez,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
As a pair of A-10 jets flew overhead, the cheers began up and down Capitol Boulevard in downtown Boise.
—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
4 July 2026
While his vineyard has enough bulk wine business to keep it up and running without Canada, Heuvel, who is also a board member of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, said other vintners will not be as fortunate.
—
Lizzie Kane,
Sacbee.com,
3 July 2026
Demonstrators cross their index and middle fingers (like for good luck), press their thumb and ring finger together, and then, while holding that position, move their pinky up and down for 30 seconds on each hand.
—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
3 July 2026
That’s why Swift’s appearance jumping up and down courtside at Game 4 felt so jarring.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
3 July 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
5 July 2026
But work, starting a family and following Leicester up and down the country prevented him from fulfilling that World Cup dream.
—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
5 July 2026
The Catalan conquistador led the first mainland expedition of Europeans up and down what’s now California.
—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2026
Plus, minimal prep means less clean-up and more time to relax and actually enjoy your food.
—
Rachel Cortez,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
As a pair of A-10 jets flew overhead, the cheers began up and down Capitol Boulevard in downtown Boise.
—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
4 July 2026
While his vineyard has enough bulk wine business to keep it up and running without Canada, Heuvel, who is also a board member of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, said other vintners will not be as fortunate.
—
Lizzie Kane,
Sacbee.com,
3 July 2026
Demonstrators cross their index and middle fingers (like for good luck), press their thumb and ring finger together, and then, while holding that position, move their pinky up and down for 30 seconds on each hand.
—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
3 July 2026
That’s why Swift’s appearance jumping up and down courtside at Game 4 felt so jarring.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
3 July 2026
Cite this Entry
“Up and.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20and. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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