taking someone up short

A form of take someone up short — To check someone or give them a curt answer.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of take someone up short
Cite this entry
APA

taking someone up short. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20someone%20up%20short

MLA

“taking someone up short.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20someone%20up%20short. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “taking someone up short,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20someone%20up%20short.

Source: taking someone up short on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.