| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| upchuck |
vomit, puke, barf, hork
|
Please hand me the paper towel. Baby upchucked on my sweater.
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| uphill battle |
difficult work, rough going, tough sledding
|
We've asked the government to protect children's rights, but it's an uphill battle all the way.
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| upon my word |
believe me, this is the truth, honestly
|
Upon my word, I don't know why they hate me so.
|
| upon the words offhandedly spoken |
upon words spoken casually or carelessly, offhand
|
Upon the words offhandedly spoken by a lover we often rely,
only to feel the sweetness of their promise disappear.
|
| upper crust |
upper class, high class, aristocracy
|
Kurt acts like upper crust because his ancestor was a German baron.
|
| upper hand |
(See the upper hand)
|
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| upset the apple cart |
cause a major problem, stop progress
|
You will upset the apple cart if you tell your folks we're moving.
|
| upside |
positive side, good news
|
If war has an upside, it would be that it's good for the economy.
|
| uptalk |
ending statements with your voice rising slightly, inflecting the tone
of your voice upwards
|
Uptalking sounds weak - like the speaker lacks confidence.
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| uptight |
tense, nervous, not relaxed, worried sick
|
"What are you uptight about?" "I'm not sure. It could be fear of losing my job."
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