knees-up

[ neez-uhp ]

noun

, British Informal.

1. a party or lively gathering, usually including dancing.

knees-up

noun

1. a boisterous dance involving the raising of alternate knees
2. a lively noisy party or celebration, esp one with dancing

Word History and Origins

Origin of knees-up¹

By ellipsis from Knees up, Mother Brown a popular dance, originally a song with the same title (1939)

Word History and Origins

Origin of knees-up¹

C20: from the song "Knees up Mother Brown" to which the dance is performed

Example Sentences

As the awards came to a close, McDonald said: "I'm off for a knees-up with all my favourite soap stars, I'm so excited."

From BBC

You’re almost, almost ready to have a right royal knees-up.

From BBC

But where a hand in a sock can become something quite expressive and convincingly alive, marionettes, with their knees-up walk, their floating arms and bobbing heads, their fairly fixed expressions and utter lack of dexterity, have to work hard to seem at all natural.

From Los Angeles Times

In terms of a grand celebration, George III's Golden Jubilee is considered to be Britain's first large-scale jubilee knees-up.

From BBC

"It's like the younger royals having a celebratory Buckingham Palace knees-up and not inviting the Queen."

From BBC