General
ey up
What does ey up mean?
Used as a friendly 'hello', or as a warning meaning 'watch out'. Ubiquitous across Yorkshire and the East Midlands.
"Ey up, love, not seen you in ages!"
Origin
Northern/Midlands English; possibly from Old Norse 'sé upp' (look up/out).
Frequently asked questions
What does 'ey up' mean?
It's a friendly greeting like 'hello', or a warning meaning 'watch out', depending on context.
Where is 'ey up' used?
It's ubiquitous across Yorkshire and the East Midlands.
Is 'ey up' hello or a warning?
It can be either; as a greeting it means 'hello', but it can also mean 'look out'.
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