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Home›Jamaica›big up

Jamaica phrase

big up

Praise, respect, or publicly acknowledge someone.

Reviewed entryJamaica usageEditorial method

Uses your device’s built-in voice. Pronunciation is approximate because available voices and jamaica pronunciation vary.

On this pageMeaningPronunciationUsageExamplesContextRelated

Meaning

Big up can express praise and respect or mean to give someone recognition. Jamaican music helped spread it internationally.

Pronunciation and grammar

Pronunciation: /bɪɡ ʌp/

Part of speech: verb and interjection

How it is used

It can stand alone as a salute or take an object naming the person or group praised.

Register: Informal Jamaican and international popular usage.

Examples in context

  • Big up di whole team.Respect and praise to the whole team.
  • She big up her mother in the speech.She publicly praised her mother in the speech.

Important context

Its global use does not erase its Jamaican and Caribbean cultural roots.

Related meanings

bredrenRelated Jamaica meaningwah gwaanRelated Jamaica meaning

Source

Collins Dictionary: big up

Jamaica dictionary

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