Meaning & use

chalk it up

phrase·Everyday

To attribute something, especially a failure or odd outcome, to a particular cause.

See it in a sentence

They chalked the loss up to bad luck rather than poor strategy.

I chalk his rudeness up to the stress he's been under lately.

A note on using this word

Usually followed by 'to,' as in 'chalk it up to experience'; common in casual, spoken English.

Words with a similar meaning

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