on the up—(UK coll.) improving or becoming more successful:
- Business was on the up, and Pete started employing people to help him fulfill orders.
on the up and up—(U.S. coll.)
1. honest and trustworthy:
- I kept telling her the whole thing had been strictly on the up and up, but she wouldn’t listen.
2. = on the up:
- Since the recession ended, our business has been on the up and up.
Note: Neither expression fully correlates in meaning with the phrase on the uppers—(sl., also: on one’s uppers)
1. reduced to poverty; destitute:
- Freddie Forsyth was on his uppers. No job, nowhere to live, no money.
2. = on the up:
- Ally has had her fair share of ups and downs, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed she is on the uppers now.