surf's up

phrase

A phrase used in surfing when a nearby wave is passing.

“Yo, Harold! Surf's up! Those cars aren't going to wash themselves!”

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Meanings

phrase
  1. A phrase used in surfing when a nearby wave is passing.
  2. idiomaticIt's time (to do something).

    Yo, Harold! Surf's up! Those cars aren't going to wash themselves!

Origin

Originally used in surfing to say there are good waves for surfing and one should get ready to ride them. This likely resulted in the later idiomatic use: to get ready for something.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

surf's up. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surf's%20up

MLA

“surf's up.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surf's%20up. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “surf's up,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surf's%20up.

Source: surf's up on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.