Got it. Thanks, Jasdip.

tj

Miraculously, I have a reasonable solution too.

floral - Does the phrase mean more than one thing to you? It does to me, but the internet is telling me that one meaning is chiefly British and I’m not sure I agree.

A legitimate question, foas.

tj

Good morning!

Got it.

Thanks, Jasdip

I only know one meaning for it ...

if I've got the right phrase.

I looked it up and I did not know the meaning described as being American.

PG Wodehouse uses the phrase a lot in his books. He’s British, and he uses it the same way an American would, I think.

eg. Hot Water written in 1932.

He did live in USA, though.

Ooh - I have an answer too! 😲

I cheated - I looked up rox’s hint and maybe I now have a guess. About my cheating - desperate times, desperate measures and all that, right?

If you're all on the up and up you'll have the answer

Yep. My primary use would be that something’s being done legally, by the book, or in general correctly. Or someone is doing it correctly. But I wouldn’t think twice about using it or hearing it used figuratively for something like someone’s career progressing.

Yes

Thanks, Jasdip

One that made sense to my tiny mind for a change 😄

FOAS, I only know the meaning of progress or improvement. I've never come across the legal/correct meaning.