one up

one up (on someone)

Leading or ahead (of someone); in an advantageous position (over someone). He's just mad because Sarah is one up on him after their yearly performance reviews. Jake and I have an ongoing contest to see who's better at this game. He's one up at the moment, but I'm trying to improve.
See also: one, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*one up (on someone)

ahead of someone; having an advantage over someone. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) Tom is one up on Sally because he got a job and she didn't. Yes, it sounds like Tom is one up.
See also: one, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

one up

Having an advantage or lead over someone, as in Sara is one up on Jane because she passed algebra in summer school. This expression comes from sports, where it means to be one point ahead of one's opponents. It was transferred to more general use about 1920.
See also: one, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • one up (on someone)
  • to windward
  • to windward of
  • to windward of (something)
  • windward
  • be on the front foot
  • stay one jump ahead
  • on the front foot
  • be one jump ahead
  • be/stay one jump ahead
References in periodicals archive
Regardless, One Up can live on in the memories of us folk who enjoy creating personalTop Five lists and lament the passing of the art form (and it was an art form) of constructing a perfect mixtape.
Three momarsa for the maintenance & repair of (a) one UPS system, (b) six medium voltage stabilizers & six shut down fuses connected to the stabilizers & (c) the safety earthing system serving electricity networks & a lightening prevention system.
Supply of (a) thirty computers, (b) four laser printers for computer networks, (c) twelve A 4 size laser printers, (d) two A 3 & A 4 color printers, (e) two optical scanners, (f) two HP file servers, (g) one UPS unit, (h) one rack mountable server console switch (1,000 VA), (I) six KVM switch UPS & (j) two digital copiers.