shoot up
Meaning
To grow, rise, or increase very quickly and suddenly.
Origin
The phrase 'shoot up' paints a vivid picture of sudden, rapid ascent, drawing its power from the dual imagery of a projectile and a plant. The verb 'shoot' itself, stemming from Old English 'sceotan', has long been associated with sudden, forceful movement, like an arrow leaving a bow or a gun firing. When paired with 'up', it captures the explosive, unrestrained surge of growth witnessed in nature—a plant sending a new sprout skyward almost overnight—or the sudden, dramatic spike of a market value. It's a linguistic snapshot of swift, vertical momentum, quickly becoming the go-to expression for anything experiencing a sudden, dramatic increase in size, height, or value.
Examples
- The saplings planted last spring have really shot up after all the rain.
- Gasoline prices are expected to shoot up again over the holiday weekend.