From 斜め (naname, “diagonal”) + 上 (ue, “up”).
ななめうえ • (nanameue)
- (slang) out of bounds realm (in regards to what is expected)
- 予想の斜め上
- yosō no nanameue
- unexpected
- (literally, “diagonal-top from expectations”)
- (予想の)斜め上を行く展開
- (yosō no) nanameue o yuku tenkai
- unexpected story progression
- (literally, “progression that heads towards diagonal-top (from expectations)”)