big up
Meaning(s)
1. express gratitude or praise
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
big up to my mentor/teacher
Analysis
To 'big up' someone or something is to praise or rate the person or the thing in an enthusiastic way that draws attention or publicity. This is often used in relation to celebrities promoting each other and each others' work. It can also be used in professional contexts: "Graham has really bigged you up. I'm very excited to hear more about what you can do for us." This is used more in casual conversation than in formal settings. Add a hyphen and you make 'big up' (phrasal verb) into a noun (a big-up): "I'd like to give a big-up to all my friends out there. Thanks for supporting me."
Social Examples (Basic)
- I'd like to give a big-up to my mentor, who helped me succeed.
- At the end of the concert, the artist gave a big-up to his fans before doing an encore.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- She made sure to big up the companies that sponsored the promotional event.
- I don't often big up people before I introduce them but Professor Ryan's research has saved hundreds of lives all over the world.