ENGLISH
REFERENCE

up and down

idiom
Meaning

moving in one direction and then the opposite, or feeling good and then bad.


Examples
SIMPLE

The elevator goes up and down all day.

CONTEXTUAL

My mood has been up and down since I started this stressful new job.

COMPLEX

The stock market has been up and down throughout the year, leaving many investors uncertain about the future of the economy.

Last updated April 22, 2026