ups and downs

ups and downs

Positive and negative events or experiences, considered collectively. Oh, we’ve had our share of ups and downs, like any married couple.
See also: and, Downs, UPS
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

(someone's) ups and downs

a person's good fortune and bad fortune. I've had my ups and downs, but in general life has been good to me. All people have their ups and downs.
See also: and, Downs, UPS
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

ups and downs

Good times and bad times, successes and failures, as in We've had our ups and downs but things are going fairly well now. This term was first recorded in 1659.
See also: and, Downs, UPS
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

ˌups and ˈdowns

times of success, happiness, etc. and times of failure, unhappiness, etc: I suppose every marriage has its ups and downs. I’ve watched the ups and downs of his business with great interest.
See also: and, Downs, UPS
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ups and downs

Good times and bad; life’s vicissitudes. The association of “up” with good fortune and “down” with misery occurred in ancient Greek and Latin, and the idea that life doles out both is equally old. The precise expression dates from the seventeenth century. Dickens used an unusual application in Martin Chuzzlewit (1843): “Fraudulent transactions have their downs as well as their ups.” See also win some, lose some.
See also: and, Downs, UPS
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • on balance
  • widen (one's) horizons
  • expand
  • expand (one's) horizons
  • expand horizons
  • mainstream media
  • media
  • lowlife
  • low-life
  • exvangelical
References in periodicals archive
As they celebrate their 20th anniversary, Ups and Downs president Angela Jack, whose son Aaron, 16, has been a member of the group since he was five, says she is immensely proud of all the children.
"Ups and Downs allow them to show off their passion for performance and really they thrive on it.
Theatre group still a smash hit with children after 20 years; INSPIRING LOCAL HEROES UP FOR TOP AWARD UPS AND DOWNS
“There are many moments of Ups and Downs on this journey but there are so many more Ups.”
Life with Special Needs Child is More Ups than Downs
Take the airline industry: It doesn't seem to have much in common with theater, but its version of dynamic pricing has become a common tactic in helping stage productions secure long runs through the ups and downs of seasonal consumer demand.
B'way takes long day's journey to future
As the years went by our marriage had its ups and downs, but my feelings for her never changed.
I don't want my ex to ruin new relationship; dear coleen
Plenty of comics have relived their ups and downs, but few have done it in such compelling fashion.
Drop Dead Gorgeous (A Tragi-Comedy): The Power of HIV-Positive Thinking
He'd always say: What you're going to have ups and downs in life but there'll be more ups than downs and when you get down just remember there's another day.
The making of the president 1996
Charlie's friend Lucy says: "Sometimes I feel so discouraged." Charlie Brown replies: "Well, Lucy, life does have its ups and downs, you know." However, Lucy hits back with: "But why should it?
GIVE ME PEANUTS