On the Up and Up: Honest, Frank, and Sincere Expressions
Ever wonder about the weird ways we describe honesty? Let’s dive into the phrase “on the up and up.” Sounds like a catchphrase for an intrepid mountain climber, doesn’t it? 🏔️ Yet, it means honest, frank, and sincere – all fine qualities unless you’re a dishonest, deceitful scam artist. Let’s break it down and have some fun!
The Mystery of Metaphor
Literally making “little sense,” the term might seem perplexing. Higher? Taller? What does that have to do with integrity? One quirky theory suggests that something “up” is easy to spot – it’s laid bare, like the yodeler belting out tunes atop the Alps (Ricola, anyone?).
Despite its murky origins, this phrase has been a part of American lexicon since the mid-nineteenth century. Even the master of gritty detective yarns, Dashiell Hammett, used it in “Red Harvest” (1929): “He phoned . . . to find out if the check was on the up and up.”
Related Expressions 🚀
- Above board: Open, legal, and without deception. 📃
- Fair and square: Honest and straightforward. 📏
- Playing with a straight bat: Acting in an honorable way. 🏏
Synonyms
- Forthright: Direct and outspoken.
- Guileless: Free of cunning or deceit.
- Trustworthy: Deserving of trust.
Antonyms
- Deceitful: Misleading or dishonest.
- Underhanded: Dubious or secretive.
- Dubious: Untrustworthy.
Humorous Quotes and Proverbs
- “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” – Mark Twain
- “Honesty is the best policy – when there is money in it.” – Mark Twain, always the realist!
- “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” – Winston Churchill
Literature Suggestions 📚
- “Red Harvest” by Dashiell Hammett – For a gritty take on American slang and crime,
- “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen – For exchanges full of honesty and hidden intentions.
- “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller – To understand bureaucratic absurdity and the inverted honesty therein.
Inspirational Movies 🎬
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” – Honesty through the eyes of Atticus Finch.
- “Erin Brockovich” – Real-life drama showcasing sincere, passionate integrity.
- “The Truman Show” – Discovering the genuine truth behind fabricated lives.
Time for a Quiz!
May your searches for truth be ever satisfying and your expressions sparkling with wit and clarity. Until next time, stay on the up and up!
🌟 C. Clarisse Wordsington
