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one-upmanship

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noun one-up·man·ship \ ˌwən-ˈəp-mən-ˌship \
variants: or less commonly one-upsmanship play \ˌwən-ˈəps-mən-ˌship\

Definition of one-upmanship

:the art or practice of outdoing or keeping one jump ahead of a friend or competitor
  • engaged in a round of verbal one-upmanship

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First Known Use of one-upmanship

1952

ONE-UPMANSHIP Defined for English Language Learners

one-upmanship

play
noun

Definition of one-upmanship for English Language Learners

  • : behavior in which someone tries to get an advantage by doing, saying, or having better things than someone else

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