up and down

Moving repeatedly toward a higher position and then a lower one.

• The ball bounced up and down.
• She moved her head up and down to say yes.
• The boat was bobbing up and down on the waves.

Common phrases: jump up and down, bob up and down, move up and down

Moving repeatedly in one direction and then the opposite direction along the same route.

• He walked up and down the hall.
• She paced up and down while waiting for the call.
• Why are you walking up and down outside my window?

How to use it: up and down something (He paced up and down the corridor.)

Similar words: back and forth, to and fro

Common phrases: pace up and down, walk up and down

With great certainty or determination, especially when saying that something is true.

• He swore up and down that he was innocent.
• She insisted up and down that the story was true.
• They had sworn up and down that they would pay us.

How to use it: swear up and down that… (She swore up and down that she had locked the door.)

Similar words: emphatically, insistently

Common phrases: swear up and down, insist up and down

In many different places within an area.

• Shops up and down the country closed early.
• They visited fishing villages up and down the coast.
• Schools up and down the region joined the project.

How to use it: up and down something (Similar festivals take place up and down the country.)

Similar words: throughout, all over

Common phrases: up and down Britain, up and down England

An anchor cable is tight and nearly vertical, with the anchor directly below the ship.

• The anchor cable is up and down.
• The crew reported that the chain was up and down.
• Keep the vessel steady while the cable is up and down.

Similar words: vertical, perpendicular

Opposites: horizontal

Common phrases: cable up and down, chain up and down

Completely and clearly having the quality described.

• He was an up and down honest man.
• She described him as up and down sincere.
• The village trusted that up and down honest fellow.

Similar words: absolute, downright, thoroughgoing

Common phrases: up and down honest, up and down sincere

A building with two floors, one above the other.

• They lived in an up and down house.
• The old up and down cottage had a narrow staircase.
• Was their first home an up and down building?

Similar words: two-story, two-storey

Opposites: single-story

Common phrases: up and down house, up and down cottage