# on the up-and-up

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/on-the-up-and-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Legitimate; honest; upright.

## Examples

- This deal is on the up-and-up, I promise.
- Before investing, make sure the company is on the up-and-up and not hiding anything.
- Though his methods seemed unconventional, years of scrutiny proved the lawyer had always been on the up-and-up.

## Origin

First use appears in the US c. 1863. Its exact origins are uncertain, but it is theorized to have originated in sports betting. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.