on the up-and-up

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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US origin, 19th c.[1] This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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on the up-and-up

  1. (informal) Legitimate; honest; upright.
    Synonyms: above board, bona fide
    Before paying any money, make sure the organization is on the up-and-up.
    • 1934, John O'Hara, Appointment in Samarra, published 2013, →ISBN, page 165:
      You double-cross me, you son of a bitch. I bet English gave you a sawbuck so he could take her out and give her a jump, and you sit back there collecting fifty bucks from me becuss[sic] I'm sap enough to think you're on the up-and-up with me.
    • 2013, Kate Collins, Seed No Evil, Penguin, →ISBN:
      “Which you also have to order from his Web site, I'm betting. Are you sure this doctor is on the up-and-up?” “He wrote a book, Abs. Of course he's on the up-and-up.”

Translations

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References

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  1. ^ Eric Partridge (2005) “up”, in Tom Dalzell and Terry Victor, editors, The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, volume 2 (J–Z), London, New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 2039.