Barbara Jackson
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Aug 14, 2023 · The expression "up and at em" is a casual way of saying someone should start doing something, get busy, or wake up and prepare for the day. It is often used to tell or motivate someone who is not very eager, fast, or active.
Get going, get busy, as in Up and at 'em—there's a lot of work to be done . This colloquial idiom, often uttered as a command, uses at 'em (for “at them”) in the general sense of tackling a project, and not in reference to specific persons.
up and at 'em. Get going, become active. This interjection, from the late 1800s, is a kind of wake-up call. The at ’em, for “at them,” does not refer to any particular individuals but rather is used in the general sense of tackling some work or undertaking an activity.
Jan 19, 2013 · The phrase is "up and at 'em" or more accurately "up and at them". According to the Phrase Finder, it probably comes from the military with the full command being "Up, Guards, and at 'em!"
The phrase ‘up and at ‘em’ is a contraction of a slightly longer phrase ‘up and at them’, which in turn is suspected to have derived from another longer phrase ‘Up, guards, and at ‘em’. It is believed to have military connotations, as an instruction to confront the enemy. There has been speculation that the saying was first used ...
May 11, 2021 · Up and at ’em is a colloquial expression, motivating people to get busy, get up and start working, similar to the phrase “pitter patter let’s get at er”. It can also be used in a military environment, for telling soldiers to get up and fight.
The phrase “up and at ’em” is a popular idiom that is often used to encourage someone to get up, take action, and face the challenges ahead. It is a motivational expression that can be applied in various situations, such as when starting a new project or facing an obstacle.
