One-upmanship for Dummies
noun
pronunciation: 'wən'əpmən,ʃɪpWhat does One-upmanship really mean?
One-upmanship is a term that we use to describe a behavior or a way of thinking that focuses on always being better than someone else, or trying to have or do more than others in order to gain advantage or to feel superior. It's like when you're playing a game with your friends and you want to be the best player, so you try to do better than everyone else and show off your skills. Imagine you have a friend who always wants to win every game you play together because they want to feel like they are the smartest or the most talented. That's a bit like one-upmanship. It's always wanting to be one step ahead, to have the upper hand, or to prove that you're better than others.
But it's not just about games, it can happen in any situation: in school, at home, or even in conversations. Let's say you know a lot about science and you're having a conversation about space with your classmates. Suddenly, you start using big words and complicated explanations just to show off and prove that you know more than anyone else. That's an example of one-upmanship too. It's like trying to outshine others by making yourself seem more knowledgeable or better in some way.
One important thing to understand about one-upmanship is that it's not a healthy way of interacting with others. Always trying to be the best can make people feel bad or excluded because they might think they're not good enough. It can lead to competition and rivalry instead of cooperation and friendship. So, it's important to recognize when we're falling into this behavior and try to shift our focus to more positive and inclusive ways of engaging with others.
Revised and Fact checked by Ava Clark on 2023-10-29 13:46:12
One-upmanship In a sentece
Learn how to use One-upmanship inside a sentece
- When two friends are playing a game and one of them wins, the other friend might try to do something even better to show that they are better, it's like a game of one-upmanship.
- In a group of students, if someone talks about getting a good grade on a test, another student might feel the need to mention that they got an even higher grade to show off, that's one-upmanship.
- Sometimes, when siblings share their achievements with their parents, one might feel the need to share an even bigger achievement to impress them, this is an example of one-upmanship.
- Imagine two classmates telling stories about their summer vacations. Each one will try to share a more exciting adventure than the other, kind of like a competition of one-upmanship.
- During recess, if one student jumps really high on the swing, another student might try to jump even higher, trying to outdo each other, this is an example of one-upmanship.
One-upmanship Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.