ENGLISH
REFERENCE

up and away

idiom
Meaning

Moving quickly and continuously upwards, often with a sense of joy or excitement.


Origin

disputed origin

The general sense is older. It is evident that the sense referring to landing gear synergizes with the sense referring to being aloft and soaring away: the gear being up and away accords with the aircraft and its crew and passengers being up and away.

Examples
SIMPLE

The colorful balloon went up and away into the blue sky.

CONTEXTUAL

As soon as the pilot finished the final check, the plane was up and away on its long journey.

COMPLEX

With a sudden burst of speed, the rocket ignited and was soon up and away, leaving the atmosphere far behind.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    away game

    An athletic contest played away from the team's home field.

  2. 02

    away with the fairies

    Not all there; slightly crazy.

  3. 03

    bang away

    to strike or hit repeatedly

  4. 04

    bear away the bell

    To be superior in something.

  5. 05

    beaver away

    To work hard at a task.

  6. 06

    blaze away

    To fire (firearms) repeatedly.

  7. 07

    blow away

    To kill (someone) by shooting them with a firearm.

  8. 08

    blow the cobwebs away

    To make changes for space for new fresh ideas

Last updated April 17, 2026