jamaica.localmean.com/big-up
big up
BIG up
Local meaning
To praise, salute, acknowledge, or show respect to someone.
It can congratulate a person, publicly recognize a group, or serve as a friendly salute. The object may be stated directly or understood from context.
Examples in context
- Big up everybody who help with di event.
- Mi haffi big up di whole team.
How it is used
The phrase has traveled internationally, but Jamaican context remains important to its history and social force.
Celebratory, respectful, energetic, or friendly.
Praise, greetings, performances, and public recognition.
Works best when the praise is genuine and specific.
Avoid using it as empty decorative language detached from the people being acknowledged.
Spelling and scope
Jamaican speech, music, public acknowledgements, and wider global slang.
- Search and reference forms
bigupbig-up
LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable. A displayed reference form is informational and does not claim that every community or publication uses one spelling.
Common patterns
- big up yuhself
- big up di crew
- nuff respect and big up
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
These sources support the language, spelling, grammar, or common conversational sense. The entry remains open to correction from Jamaican speakers and qualified reviewers.
- 24 Jamaican phrases you should knowJamaica Experiences
Everyday phrase guide used only as supporting evidence for common conversational senses.
- Patois — Learn More About Jamaican LanguageJamaica Tourist Board
Public Jamaican language and phrase overview from the official tourism site.