chalk up

verb

chalked up; chalking up; chalks up

transitive verb

1

: ascribe, credit

chalked up his failures to inexperience

2

: attain, achieve

chalk up another victory

Synonyms of chalk up

• attribute
• ascribe

Examples of chalk up in a Sentence

let's chalk up her weird behavior to simple nervousness

chalked up a record in singles tennis that is likely to stand for a long time

Recent Examples on the Web

There is no doubt this one will be chalked up as an incorrect decision in the eyes of the KMI panel. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

The Texas head coach had abandoned a halftime on-field interview with Laura Rutledge, which the sideline reporter chalked up to technical difficulties that cut into the coach’s limited halftime intermission. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

But not all of these fortunes can be chalked up to just good old-fashioned hard work, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial hustle in delivering better products and services to consumers. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026

Sanders chalked up the shortage to changes in pension and retirement rules. — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for chalk up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup