on the up-and-up

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on the up-and-up

Where it comes from

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

adjective on the up and up

idiomatic, informal Legitimate; honest; upright. Before paying any money, make sure the organization is on the up-and-up.
Similar: above board, bona fide
UK, idiomatic, informal Becoming more successful; on the rise.

Translations

Every language

adj legitimate

Español	honesto

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MLA

"on the up-and-up." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/on%20the%20up-and-up. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

on the up-and-up. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/on%20the%20up-and-up

Chicago

"on the up-and-up." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/on%20the%20up-and-up.

BibTeX

@misc{on_the_up_and_up_2026,
  title = {on the up-and-up},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/on%20the%20up-and-up},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}