(UK, Irish, figurative, colloquial) To prepare to move; to pack up; to go and live in a different place.
(UK, Irish, figurative, colloquial) To prepare to move; to pack up; to go and live in a different place.
If a doctor had to do an operation in a sailing ship, you upped sticks and went before the wind, he said.
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(North America, informal, pejorative) A remote, rural area; a place that is removed from civilization such as the boondocks.
(informal, UK) To move over so as to make room for another.
(dated, slang) To depart clandestinely or in a hurry.
(North America, vulgar, derogatory, figuratively) A stiff, stern, uptight, or humorless manner.
Please help [improve this article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Pick-up_sticks_(Haida) "Special:EditPage/Pick-up sticks (Haida)") by [adding citations to reliable sources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wi…
(UK, Irish, sailing, slang) To put up the mast of a ship in preparation for sailing.
Both of these conquered more and more of India, till at length the Rajput city of Delhi was captured, and then the disgusted Rajputs ‘upped sticks’ and fled before Islam and the Turk, and finally settled amid the inaccessible mountains a…
"up sticks" means to put up the mast of a ship in preparation for sailing. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
"up sticks" is informal English meaning to put up the mast of a ship in preparation for sailing. It is mainly heard in British English (and Irish English). A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "to put up the mast of a ship in preparation for sailing" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "up sticks" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.
“5/6 Pick up sticks Forward march, Vitches 💫”
“# Pick-up sticks Pick-up sticks Game of physical and mental skill This article is about the game.”
“Please help [improve this article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Pick-up_sticks_(Haida) "Special:EditPage/Pick-up sticks (Haida)") by [adding citations to reliable sources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners "Help:Referencing for beginners").”
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