upstairs

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? invites urination. Upstairs is also where the bedrooms are, for copulation:
    Was he going to haul her off upstairs, leaving first-years honours [students] to riot away among the cakes below while he satisfied his passion? (Bradbury, 1959)
   2. death
   Where God lives and heaven is to be found. However, to go upstairs out of this world was to be hanged, punning on the climb up the scaffold.
   3. in authority
   The senior staff occupy the higher floors:
    And now the pressure put on from upstairs to put the clamp on the case... (van Lustbaden, 1983)
   And see boys upstairs under boys2.

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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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 — /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.… …   Universalium

  • 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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