Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

to go up on one's lines (acting)

English answer:

to fumble his lines

Added to glossary by Roomy Naqvy
Aug 17, 2001 13:30
23 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

to go up on one's lines (acting)

English Art/Literary
"Gore had massive stage presence, knew his script and source material forward and backward, spoke boldly and cheerfully (when he permitted himself to do so, that is), and could probably have improvised in iambic pentameter.
By contrast, his costar Bush kept **going up on his lines**. He appeared fearful and skittish, with perpetually hunched shoulders and darting eyes. Everything he said was a string of meaningless words leading to memorized phrases. It was in fact some of the worst acting I've ever seen."

Responses

+2
24 mins
Selected

to fumble his lines

Ex.
"Don Hastings (Jack Lane) was once supposed to say to John Larkin, "But you know I love Betty-Jean and Bud". However, during the live telecast, Hastings went up on his lines saying, " But you know I love Betty-Jean in bed."
Peer comment(s):

agree Nikki Scott-Despaigne
13 hrs
agree Roomy Naqvy : fine answer
50 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you both. Points to Cecilia for getting there first."
+1
39 mins

Forget one's lines on the stage

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the verb "to go up" as follows:

To forget one's lines on the stage or make a mistake in performing music. For example, "Don't worry, you know your part and you won't go up," or "He went up in the last movement of the sonata." [Slang; 1960s].

Fuad
Peer comment(s):

agree Nikki Scott-Despaigne
13 hrs
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