sup
(redirected from supping)Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon
proverb If associate or deal with a particularly malicious, immoral, or unscrupulous person or people, you should be prepared that they will try to deceive, exploit, or harm you. Primarily heard in UK. The prime minister has been bending over backwards to curry the favour of the despotic leader, presumably to try and negotiate a trade deal that will give Britain access to their huge oil reserves. But as the old saying goes, he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon. This information was bound to get leaked to the press. Any senator taking bribes should know that he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon. Of course you ended up getting shot—what did you think was going to happen when you double-crossed a drug lord? He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon, my man.
stick up
1. To stand or protrude upright. I always get this single hair that sticks up after I dry my hair.
2. To affix something to a high point on a vertical surface for it to be seen or displayed. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stick" and "up." My mom always sticks my good grades up on the fridge. It's a little embarrassing, but it also makes me feel good. The police are sticking up wanted posters of the criminal.
3. To raise and hold something aloft. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stick" and "up." Tom, don't stick up your hand if you don't have something worthwhile to say. The giraffe stuck its head up above the canopy of leaves.
4. informal To rob someone or something, especially at gunpoint. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stick" and "up." The criminal stuck me up in the back alley and stole all my money. He got sent to prison at 16 for sticking up drugstores and supermarkets.
stir up
1. To stir something with a tool or utensil, especially to mix together its ingredients or parts. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stir" and "up." He stirred the mixture up before pouring it out into the mold. Make sure to stir up the curry before you serve it.
2. To create as a result of stirring or agitating, or to cause to become churned or distributed in a chaotic way. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stir" and "up." Stop it, your stirring up a whole cloud of soot doing that! You're probably sneezing because the wind has been stirring up all the pollen.
3. To rouse, incite, or provoke something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stir" and "up." Quit stirring up trouble! The mayor has been stirring up controversy again with another inflammatory remark. The old movie stirred emotions up in me that I'd long forgotten.
4. To incense, agitate, or anger someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stir" and "up." He's just attempting to stir up his followers and distract from the scandal. Nothing stirs my students up as much as when I assign homework over the weekend.
stock (someone or something) up with (something)
To furnish someone, something, or some place with supplies of something. We stocked the house up with food, so you should have plenty to eat while we're gone. The kitchen is running low on a few things, but Brady's coming round to stock us up with fresh supplies tomorrow.
stock up
1. To acquire the stock or inventory one requires. As manager, one of your duties is to stock up when the kitchen starts running low on supplies. Don't worry, I've been stocking up on fuel for the past three years for just such an occasion.
2. To gather, build up, or hoard a supply (of something). We stocked up on bottled water and canned goods, so we should be fine during the storm. There's supposed to be a fuel shortage soon, so I've been stocking up for the past three weeks.
3. To furnish someone, something, or some place (with something). In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stock" and "up." We stocked up the house with food, so you should have plenty to eat while we're gone. The kitchen is running low on a few things, but Brady's coming round to stock us up tomorrow.
4. Of a horse's leg, to swell with fluid in a painless manner not indicative of an injury. It is not uncommon for your horse to stock up if it has spent the night in its stall. Once it begins moving, the swelling should dissipate entirely.
sup with Sir Thomas Gresham
To go without food. Sir Thomas Gresham founded the Royal Exchange in London, which the poor often visited. A: "Why are you so hungry? Didn't you eat dinner?" B: "No, I got stuck in a meeting, so I supped with Sir Thomas Gresham."
sup with the devil
To associate or deal with a particularly malicious, immoral, or unscrupulous person or people; to commit malicious, immoral, or unscrupulous acts. ("Sup" means to eat or have supper.) Primarily heard in UK. Once considered one of the most straight-laced politicians in England, it's come to light that the former Health Secretary has been supping with the devil for years, giving pharmaceutical companies special privileges in exchange for sizable kickbacks. She has been accused of supping with the devil after the activist was spotted having dinner with the CEO of one of the conglomerations her charity opposes.
sup?
How have you been? What is or has been happening? (A colloquial shortening of "what's up?") A: "Sup Randy? I haven't seen you in a while." B: "Ah, not too much, just getting by, you know."
supe up
To modify something in order to increase its power or performance. A noun or pronoun can be used between "supe" and "up." (A less common variant of "soup up.") He's spent a fortune suping up his car for drag racing. We've suped our computers up to run incredibly complex programs at lightning speeds.
See also: up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.
Prov. If you have dealings with dangerous people, you must be careful that they do not harm you. If you're going to hang out with that disreputable bunch of people, keep in mind that he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.
stick someone or something up
to rob someone or a business establishment. (Presumably with the aid of a gun.) Max tried to stick the drugstore up. Max stuck up the store.
stick something up
1. to fasten something to a place where it can be seen; to put something on display, especially by gluing, tacking, or stapling. stick this notice up. Put a copy on every bulletin board. Please stick up this notice.
2. to raise something; to hold something up. she stuck her hand up because she knew the answer. The elephant stuck up its trunk and trumpeted.
stick up
to stand upright or on end; to thrust upward. The ugly red flower stuck up from the bouquet. Why is the worst-looking flower sticking up above all the rest?
stir someone up
Fig. to get someone excited; to get someone angry. (Fig. on stir something up.) The march music really stirred the audience up. The march stirred up the audience.
stir something up
1. Lit. to mix something by stirring. Please stir the pancake batter up before you use it. Please stir up the batter.
2. Fig. to cause trouble. Why are you always trying to stir trouble up? Are you stirring up trouble again?
stock up (with something)
to build up a supply of something. You had better stock up with firewood before the first snowstorm. Yes, I will stock up today.
stock up (with something)
to build up a supply of something. You had better stock up with firewood before the first snowstorm. Yes, I will stock up today.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
stick up
1. Project from a surface, as in That little cowlick of his sticks up no matter what you do. [Early 1400s]
2. Put up a poster or notice, as in Will you stick up this announcement on the bulletin board? [Late 1700s]
3. Rob, especially at gunpoint, as in The gang concentrated on sticking up liquor stores and gas stations. This usage, dating from the mid-1800s, gave rise to the colloquial phrase, stick 'em up, a robber's order to a victim to raise his or her hands above the head. [1930s]
stir up
1. Mix together the ingredients or parts, as in He stirred up some pancake batter, or Will you stir up the fire? [Mid-1300s]
2. Rouse to action, incite, provoke, as in He's always stirring up trouble among the campers, or If the strikers aren't careful they'll stir up a riot. [First half of 1500s] Also see stir up a hornets' nest.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
sup (or dine) with the devil
have dealings with a cunning or malevolent person.The proverb he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon is used especially to urge someone dealing with a person of this type to take care.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
stick up
v.
1. To project or protrude upwards: When I woke up this morning my hair was sticking up.
2. To cause something to project or protrude upwards: The mayor stuck up her hands and waved to the crowd. Stick 'em up—this is a robbery!
3. To rob someone or something, especially at gunpoint: A robber stuck up the bank and stole thousands of dollars. Two people with shotguns walked into the store and stuck it up.
4. To post something with or as if with an adhesive: They stuck up posters all around the neighborhood. I stuck the photos up on my website.
5. stick up for To defend or support someone or something: I stuck up for my little brother whenever the other kids teased him. You should stick up for yourself and not let people spread rumors about you.
stir up
v.
1. To mix something before cooking or use: You must stir up the concrete thoroughly before you start paving the path. I poured the batter into a bowl and stirred it up vigorously.
2. To churn or agitate something into a state of turbulence: The storm stirred up the normally placid lake. The wind stirs the leaves up.
3. To cause something to form by churning or agitating: The truck zoomed off, stirring a cloud of dust up behind it. I stirred up a batch of concrete in the mixer and got to work paving the driveway.
4. To rouse the emotions of someone or something; excite someone or something: The protesters hope to stir up the public through this demonstration. The teacher stirred the students up when she threatened to give them more work.
5. To summon some collective emotion or sentiment by exciting a group of people: The court's verdict was certain to stir up controversy. The tourism board is trying to stir up interest in the city.
6. To evoke some mental image or remembrance: That old picture stirs up many memories for me.
stock up
v.
1. To provide or furnish something with supplies: The bartender stocked up the bar with vodka. We stocked the house up with emergency supplies.
2. stock up on To gather and store a supply of something: We stocked up on canned goods before the storm came.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
(T)sup?
(ˈ(t)səp) interrog. What’s up?; What is happening?; What have you been doing? Hi! Tsup?
sup?
verbSee Tsup?
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.