upstairs

upstairs
/up"stairz"/, adv., adj., n., pl. upstairs.
adv.
1. up the stairs; to or on an upper floor.
2. Informal. in the mind: to be a little weak upstairs.
3. to or at a higher level of authority: You may have to take the matter upstairs.
4. Mil. Slang. at or to a higher level in the air.
5. kick upstairs, to promote (a person) to a higher position, usually having less authority, in order to be rid of him or her.
adj.
6. Also, upstair. of, pertaining to, or situated on an upper floor: an upstairs window; an upstairs apartment.
n.
7. (usually used with a sing. v.) an upper story or stories; the part of a building or house that is above the ground floor: The upstairs of this house is entirely rented.
8. a higher command or level of authority: We can't take action till we have approval from upstairs.
[1590-1600; UP- + STAIRS]

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • upstairs — upstairs, upstair Upstairs is the normal form for both the adjective (the upstairs rooms) and the adverb (go upstairs). Upstair (formerly used occasionally as an adjective) is now virtually obsolete …   Modern English usage

  • Upstairs — Up stairs , a. Being above stairs; as, an upstairs room. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • upstairs — 1590s (adj.), from UP (Cf. up) + stairs (see STAIR (Cf. stair)). The noun is first attested 1872. Meaning characteristic of upstairs life (in private rooms of a household, as opposed to servants quarters) is recorded from 1942. He [Halifax] had… …   Etymology dictionary

  • upstairs — [up′sterz′] adv. 1. up the stairs 2. on or to an upper floor or higher level 3. Informal mentally; in the mind [a person who lacks something upstairs] adj. situated on an upper floor n. an upper floor or floors …   English World dictionary

  • Upstairs — Up*stairs , adv. Up the stairs; in or toward an upper story. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • upstairs — ► ADVERB ▪ on or to an upper floor. ► ADJECTIVE (also upstair) ▪ situated on an upper floor. ► NOUN ▪ an upper floor …   English terms dictionary

  • upstairs — [[t]ʌ̱pste͟ə(r)z[/t]] 1) ADV: ADV after v If you go upstairs in a building, you go up a staircase towards a higher floor. He went upstairs and changed into fresh clothes... I walked upstairs and unlocked my front door. Ant: downstairs 2) ADV: be… …   English dictionary

  • upstairs — up|stairs1 S2 [ˌʌpˈsteəz US ˈsterz] adv towards or on an upper floor in a building ≠ ↑downstairs ▪ I went upstairs and had a shower. ▪ She s upstairs in bed feeling ill. >upstairs adj [only before noun] ▪ an upstairs window ▪ the upstairs… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • upstairs —    1. an allusion to a taboo act or place    In former times, she s gone upstairs meant that a birth was imminent. An invalid who has been upstairs for two months indicates the duration of his infirmity. Socially, Would you like to go upstairs?… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • upstairs — 1 adverb 1 towards a higher floor in a building, using the stairs: Lucy came rushing upstairs after her sister. opposite downstairs (1) 2 on an upper floor in a building, especially a house: My office is upstairs on the right. compare downstairs… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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