big up

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

big up (third-person singular simple present bigs up, present participle bigging up, simple past and past participle bigged up or (rare) big upped)

1. (transitive, informal) To increase one's muscle mass.
   • 2007, David Handler, The Bright Silver Star: A Berger and Mitry Mystery:

     She was bigged up—had a weight-lifter's rippling arms.

2. (informal) To become big.
   • 2012, Caspar Henderson, The Book of Barely Imagined Beings, page 83:

     Relatively simple multicellular forms had already existed for a hundred million years when the Cambrian began: the explosion had a long fuse, and during this earlier fizzling life experimented with various ways to big up.

3. (slang, transitive) To proclaim or exaggerate the importance of; to promote.

   I want to big up my bro on the mic.

   They're trying to big themselves up to be more than they are.

   • 2007, Apple announces new mobile phone, BBC Online, 9 January 2007

     In a keynote speech, attended by over 2,000 people, Steve Jobs spent the first 10 minutes bigging up the move to Intel chips.

   • 2017, Daniel Tammet, Every Word is a Bird We Teach to Sing, →ISBN, page 162:

     Some say of me, "There's Adrian again in the media, bigging himself up.

   • 2022 August 24, Stephen Roberts, “Bradshaw's Britain: the Cotswold Line”, in RAIL, number 964, page 61:

     Bradshaw bigs up local trades: "Agricultural produce, good cider and perry (which require a little brandy to qualify them), wool, hops, and prime cattle, - the last being a splendid breed, white-faced, with soft reddish-brown coats. [...]."

Synonyms

• (become big): enlarge
• (increase one's muscle mass): build up, bulk up, pump iron, work out
• (exaggerate the importance of): overemphasize, overplay, play up, sell

Noun

big up (plural big ups)

1. (slang, also big ups) Significant respect or acclaim.

   I want to give a big up to my bro on the mic.

Synonyms

• (significant respect): props, respect

See also

• strength training
• shout out
• word up

Jamaican Creole

Etymology

From English big.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɪɡ(h)ʌp/
• Hyphenation: big‧up

Verb

big up

1. (imperative, reflexive) To be thought of as praiseworthy by someone else ; to have someone's respect. (display of affection or praise)

   Me just want to say big up yourself, General.

   I'd just like to say that you have my respect, Sir.

   • 2010, Ardenne High Grade 13 (class of 2010), Ardenne High Grade 13 Year book 2010, page 18:

     “Yuh kno seh a bear tings a go gwaan from wi touch six form. Big up wi teacha dem […] ”

     You knew that we were going to get up to a lot of stuff once we entered 13th grade. Teachers, we respect you […]

2. good to see you; nice to see you (greeting)

   Big up yuhself!

   Nice to see you (again)!

3. praise, commend (praise)

   Big up Miss Lou!

   Let's praise Miss Lou!

Alternative forms

• big op

Related terms

• bless up

References

• big up – jamaicans.com Jamaican Patois dictionary