English Expression · Intermediate
one up
To outdo, to perform something slightly better than a competitor's prior effort
Pronunciation: say one up
Meaning
To outdo, to perform something slightly better than a competitor's prior effort.
Example
Every year the neighbors try to one-up each other with their holiday lights.
Every year the neighbors try to one-up each other with their holiday lights.
Practice tips
- Practice one up out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English expression is for intermediate-level learners.