I heard an interesting segment on NPR last night and would like to expand on the topic. The speaker was discussing how the phrase "on the up and up" has two different usages. One being that if something was on the up and up it was above board, kosher, ethical, acceptable, legal. The other usage had to do with something being on an increase. Such as, the travel industry has been on the up and up. I never thought of that being an acceptable use of it. What do the bankers think when you here "on the up and up" and what other phrases have you heard have alternate uses?

I heard the same segment - good stuff. My initial reaction was 'on the level' or 'above board'. I've never associated that phrase with an increase in something.

In case it's a regional thing, I'm from the Great Lakes area.

always thought of it in the first sense too...

To me it means above-board and on the "straight and narrow".

Always considered it to mean above board or honest. I've never heard it used in the other way.

I heard the same NPR story the other afternoon. Not only do I agree with you on the meaning of "on the up and up", I'm was also confused by the confusion over one of the other examples they used in the story. Sorry I can't remember it exactly but it had to do with the depth of a pool and whether the phrase meant the water was deeper or more shallow.

I think NPR is confusing "on the up and up" with "on the rise." I suppose that some folks may have adopted it for another purpose, but wouldn't "on the up" suffice for their meaning.