uppies and downies

noun

A traditional ball game played in Workington, West Cumbria, England, with the object of "hailing the ball" (throwing it up in the air three times) at the opposing team's goal.

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Meanings

nounuppies and downies (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA traditional ball game played in Workington, West Cumbria, England, with the object of "hailing the ball" (throwing it up in the air three times) at the opposing team's goal.

Origin

From up + -ies + and + down + -ies. The "uppies" and "downies" were the residents of the top (east) and bottom (west) of the town, which slopes down towards the sea.

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Cite this entry
APA

uppies and downies. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/uppies%20and%20downies

MLA

“uppies and downies.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/uppies%20and%20downies. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “uppies and downies,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/uppies%20and%20downies.

Source: uppies and downies on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.