# on the up-and-up

> English word · Adjective

## Definitions
1. Legitimate; honest; upright.
2. Becoming more successful; on the rise.

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

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/on-the-up-and-up