all up in

phrase

Etymology

Formed from the adverbs all + up + the preposition in. See OED all, adv., OED up, adv. 2, OED in, prep. The adverbs act as intensifiers to the preposition and are used to emphasize summation and completion.

Meaning & use

Also all in, up in

  1. 2002–Showing (sometimes unwanted or overbearing) proximity, intimacy, or involvement with a person or a situation. Often in phrases all up in here, all up in someone's business, all up in someone's face, and similar constructions.

    usage Can also be found with either all or up dropped from the phrase with meaning retained. See 2021 quotation for the former, 2012 for the latter. Complete phrase is intensified compared to use with dropped elements.

    Show quotationsHide quotations
    2002
    'Cause you promised to put it down, all up in your city, lookin' for you.
    G. A. Gallup Valence Bond Methods viii.111
    2003
    Mr. Scout, all up in here. Right on, Bro.
    F. Shaw Sweetest Thing 96
    2003
    This Friday at Paradise Lanes, Jessie Anderson will be all up in there singing his latest hit.
    D. ArpC. Arp New Baby Stress iii. 31
    2004
    People be all up in your shit acting like your best friend when you doing good then go ghost on you when you fall down. Watch out for the snakes fam🐍
    D. Lodge Author, Author ii. i. 51
    2004
    Remember she ain't want me, now she all in my face, like, uh, girl, you too late, yeah, you ain't got no taste, yeah.
    L. M. Fine Story of Reo Joe vi. 162
    2005
    We ready. We will be all up in your grill. We comin' hard.
    J. R. Smith San Francisco's Lost Landmarks 2006 i. 25
    2005
    Since you all in my business, this what I tell a bitch, if you ain't fuckin' me, don't fuck with me, this life on the edge.
    Philadelphia September 102/2
    2005
    They stay up in her business like leave the girl alone😭
    N. Hornby Long Way Down 87
    2007
    People feel they have a right to "get all up in their business."
    Daily Telegraph Nexis 19 July 19
    2008
    Cellular phone in one hand—and a bevy of beautiful women all up in his face.
    A. Davies Mine All Mine 10
    2008
    I didn't like them diggin' all up in my life.
    I. M. Banks Matter iv. 69
    2008
    She don't really like attention, I don't know if she gon' manage out here, but she got me all up in my zone.
    A. Davies Mine All Mine 225
    2008
    he was up in his face shouting at him
    S. Gray Coda 155
    2009
    ctfuuuu u all up in her bidness AND u put us in it??? Neither one of y'all doing yall work! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
    G. Flynn Dark Places 215
    2023
    Men are out there looking for a faithful woman to keep to themselves while they are all up in every random girl's thirst traps and likes..
    P. J. Trist Trist Families of Devon VI. e-book, accessed 29 July 2024