up and down

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up and down (not comparable)

1. upward and downward, alternately

   the tide goes up and down

   my blood pressure goes up and down

   She looked me up and down and hinted that I could do with losing some weight.

2. (idiomatic) alternately forwards and backwards along a path

   walk up and down the corridor

3. (idiomatic) staunchly, unwaveringly, obstinately

   He swore up and down that he hadn't taken the money.

   • 2006, Stephen Baker, Bomb Ass Pussy:

     Christina is straight up and down fuckable.

4. In various places, e.g. in a country.
   • 2022 January 12, Paul Bigland, “Fab Four: the nation's finest stations: Eastbourne”, in RAIL, number 948, page 27:

     There's also a barber's shop and that staple of railway stations up and down the UK - a WH Smith.

• ups and downs

up and down (not comparable)

1. (nautical) Vertical; perpendicular; said of the cable when the anchor is under, or nearly under, the hawse hole, and the cable is taut.
2. (figuratively) plain; downright

   an up and down honest man