Definition of the word have up

The phrase "have up" is a colloquial way to mean "reveal," "unveil," or "announce." The origin of this expression can be traced back to the 16th century, where it appeared in the form "have away" or "have out." The phrase has its roots in Old English, specifically in the word "havier," which meant "to distribute" or "to give away." Over time, the expression evolved into Middle English and was spelled "hav�effective" or "havt SYth." In this form, "havt" meant "have," and "SYth" referred to something that was concealed or hidden. During the 1500s, the expression "have away" gained popularity, particularly in the context of revealing a secret or surprise, such as "the king has away a great treasure" or "the committee has away the identity of the thief." This form of the expression persisted into the 1700s, when it began to shift into "have out" and "have up." Today, "have up" continues to be used in everyday speech, particularly in British English. It is typically used to signify that something previously concealed or unknown has been fully revealed or made publicly known. The expression may also be used in the context of incidentally discovering or realizing something, such as "I had no idea she could sing, but then she had it up at the coffee house last night."