# roll up on

idiom

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

## Meaning

To sneak up to (someone or something) with the intention of causing harm.

## Examples

- He tried to roll up on me from behind.
- The group saw the rival gang roll up on them in the dark parking lot.
- The security footage captured the masked intruders as they attempted to roll up on the unsuspecting guard near the warehouse entrance.

## Origin

From the verb phrase *roll up* + the preposition *on*. The term is semantically and morphologically parallel with the construction *roll up* + *to*.

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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.