not up one's own ***

   Share on Facebook  
Espeland  #507714  Wed, 30 Apr 08 03:13 PM
Hello everybody !

I've recently read a sentence (slang, without a doubt) that I don't understand:

"They're from Coventry, mate. They're working lads, they're normal boys. They've gone to all the schools we've gone to. They're not up their own ***." 

(NME, 19 April 2008, p. 22) 

What does "being up one's own ***" mean ? 

 

P.S.: Apparently there's a word that is automatically censored. It starts with A, continues with R, S, and ends with E.... 

  
Not Ranked
Joined on Fri, Jul 13 2007
Switzerland
New Member (45)
Philip  #507719  Wed, 30 Apr 08 03:24 PM
I'm not familiar with the British expression, but a similar one in AmEng is "to have one's head up one's b...t", meaning that he can't see what's going on, is oblivious to anything important, doesn't understand, is totally ignorant.
  
Top 25 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005
USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)
Veteran Member (6,181)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen
CalifJim  #507884  Wed, 30 Apr 08 11:19 PM
 I defer to someone British on this, but I suspect the American equivalent is something like They're not stuck up.  Others will correct me as needed.

To be stuck up is to act superior to others, to look down on others, to exaggerate one's own importance, to put on airs. 

CJ 

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member (16,970)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
Clive  #508002  Thu, 01 May 08 05:12 AM

Hi guys,

I see it as 'self-obsessed'.

Clive

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member (21,184)
ModeratorTeachers
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
nona the brit  #508038  Thu, 01 May 08 08:07 AM

full of a sense of their own importance/arrogant/think how wonderful they are.

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004
England
Veteran Member (11,353)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
The name says it all.
Espeland  #508424  Fri, 02 May 08 11:37 AM
 Ah, ok. Thank you very much !
  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL Vocabulary and Idioms
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service