get up

Verb

get up (third-person singular simple present gets up, present participle getting up, simple past got up, past participle (UK) got up or (US) gotten up)

1. (literally) To move in an upward direction; to ascend or climb.
   • The tired horse eventually got up and over the hurdle.
   • I'm having difficulty getting up the stairs.

   Synonyms:

   alley oop

2. To rise from one's bed, usually upon waking up in order to begin one's day.
   • I didn't get up until midday.
   • We know what it is to get out of bed on a freezing morning in a room without a fire, and how the very vital principle within us protests against the ordeal. Probably most persons have lain on certain mornings for an hour at a time unable to brace themselves to the resolve. We think how late we...1918, William James, chapter 26, in The Principles of Psychology
3. To move from a sitting or lying position to a standing position; to stand up.
   • Get up off the couch and clean this mess!
   • That guy's not getting up, is he?2008 July 14, Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics, Legendary Pictures

   Synonyms:

   stand up

4. To materialise; to grow stronger.
   • As dusk fell a storm got up.

   Synonyms:

   come into being

5. To bring together; to amass.
   • The general got up a large body of men.
   • If you're short on cash this month I'll just find another way to get up my half of the rent.1986, Craig G. Harris, “Weekend Plans”, in Joseph Beam, editor, In The Life: A Black Gay Anthology, page 139

   Synonyms:

   amound

6. To gather or grow larger by accretion.
   • The locomotive got up a good head of steam.
   • I could see that he was getting up a temper.

   Synonyms:

   gather

7. To go towards the attacking goal.
   • City sent on Adam Johnson for the ineffective Jo and the Englishman at least gave notice that he wanted to run at the Arsenal defence, but his team-mates had been run into the ground by then and no-one could get up in support of the winger.2011 January 5, Jonathan Stevenson, “Arsenal 0 - 0 Man City”, in BBC
8. (Australia, UK, colloquial) To criticise.
   • He got up me about the mess I made in the kitchen.
   • Back in January 1989, as soon as Rod got up me that night, I knew he rated me, cared about what I did and how I performed. I felt I′d climbed a big step up the credibility ladder.2010 July 1 [2001], Ian Healy, Hands and Heals: The Autobiography (non-fiction), →ISBN

   Synonyms:

   berate

9. (colloquial) To annoy.
   • Well, Beaver said at last. Somethin′s got up him. Like you said—people have regrets.2002 November 25 [2001], Tim Winton, “Four”, in Dirt Music (fiction), page 257

   Synonyms:

   exasperate

10. To dress in a certain way, especially extravagantly.
    • She was all got up in the most ridiculous frilly dress.
    • He got himself up for the party.
11. (Australia, colloquial) To succeed; to win.
    • Looking at the polling, I don't reckon this referendum will get up.
    • If the Blues happen to win, next day at Roma Saleyards you wouldn't know there'd been a game, but if the Maroons get up they drive it into the NSW buyers at every pen.2009, John Gilfoyle, And They Came to Roma Saleyards, Boolarong Press, →ISBN, page 93
12. (slang) To have sex; to penetrate sexually; to have a sexual or romantic liaison.