Meaning & use
whup ass
Last updated
UK/ˈwʌp ɑːs/
US/ˈwʌp æs/
Usage warning: this word is vulgar. It can hurt or insult people. Learn to recognise it, but avoid using it about anyone.
Meaning
phraseidiom
To beat someone decisively, either in a fight or in a game or contest.
Grammar: Informal verb phrase: whup ass can take 'on' someone: we whupped ass on them.
Patterns
- whup ass on someone
- open a can of whup ass
Our team is going to whup ass in the finals.
He bragged that he could whup ass against anyone in the room.
The coach said they'd whup ass if they played like they practiced.
Word forms
| past | whupped ass |
|---|---|
| -ing | whupping ass |
Common combinations
- open a can of whup ass
- The champion promised to open a can of whup ass.
- whup ass on someone
- They whupped ass on last year's winners.
- ready to whup ass
- She was ready to whup ass at trivia night.
- threaten to whup ass
- He threatened to whup ass but never did.
Synonyms and how they differ
- thrash
- Thrash is neutral and works in sports or fights without the crude tone.
- beat
- Beat is general and polite, while whup ass is loud and boastful.
- trounce
- Trounce means to defeat easily and sounds more formal.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: whup ass or whoop?
whup ass vs whoop
Whoop is a cry of joy, while 'whoop ass' is a spelling variant of whup ass.
Practice
The coach joked that the team would ______ against the weaker opponent.
Choose one answer.
Whup ass is slang for defeating someone decisively; the other phrases suggest flattery or surrender.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “whup ass”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.