up the cigarette

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "up the cigarette" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear when this phrase could be used, as it does not form a coherent expression. Example: "I don't understand what you mean by 'up the cigarette.'"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

I held up the cigarette and studied it.

The New York Times

He held out his arm for me and picked up the cigarette with his other hand and dragged from it.

The New York Times - Books

"I'd go down on a Tuesday and pick up the cigarette butts at the end of the night, penniless… But it allowed us to be so idealistic.

Independent

Ferrovial has had to delay a debt-refinancing plan because of the credit crunch.British American Tobacco went on a spending spree, picking up the cigarette business of Denmark's ST, for $4 billion, and Turkey's Tekel, for $1.7 billion.

The Economist

Speaking of a sequence that the producers removed, he wrote, "I made up the cigarette schtick, just like every other shot in 'Caine,' as I went along from one setup to the next".

The New Yorker

As he says in The Five Little Pigs, "I do not need to bend and measure the footprints and pick up the cigarette ends and examine the bent blades of grass.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Once the deals were struck, the butchers would come over, gather up the cigarettes, and smoke them.

The New Yorker

You don't pretend it's not lung cancer, unless you want to have a good excuse to not give up the cigarettes that are killing you.

The Guardian - Opinion

The other day he told off a group of recruits assigned to police duty as follows: "You college guys pick up the cigarettes, you high-school guys pick up the matches, and you guys with no education stand around and learn something".

The New Yorker

You just lock up the cigarettes.

Huffington Post

Photo by Nancy A. Ruhling He hated to give up the cigarettes.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing smoking actions, use precise verbs like "light", "smoke", or "extinguish" instead of the vague "up the cigarette".

Common error

Don't use "up the cigarette" as it's ambiguous and lacks clarity; opt for more specific and commonly understood expressions like "smoke a cigarette" or "light up a cigarette".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up the cigarette" functions as a verb phrase, attempting to describe an action related to a cigarette. However, as noted by Ludwig, the phrase is considered incorrect and does not convey a clear meaning in standard written English. More commonly, we use phrases such as "light up a cigarette".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "up the cigarette" appears across various sources, Ludwig indicates it is grammatically questionable and lacks clarity. Better alternatives are "light a cigarette" or "smoke a cigarette". Although the phrase has some usage across News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, it's more common in informal settings. When aiming for precision, avoid "up the cigarette" and prefer more standard expressions to ensure clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smoke the cigarette

Replaces "up" with "smoke", focusing on the act of smoking.

light up the cigarette

Focuses on the initial act of lighting the cigarette.

have a cigarette

Indicates the act of possessing and smoking a cigarette.

take a cigarette

Emphasizes the action of taking a cigarette to smoke.

grab a cigarette

Suggests quickly taking a cigarette.

bum a cigarette

Implies asking someone for a cigarette.

roll a cigarette

Describes the act of manually creating a cigarette.

finish the cigarette

Highlights the completion of smoking the cigarette.

toss the cigarette

Focuses on throwing the cigarette away.

extinguish the cigarette

Describes the act of putting out the cigarette.

FAQs

What are more common ways to talk about smoking a cigarette?

Common alternatives include "smoke a cigarette", "light up a cigarette", or simply "have a smoke".

Is "up the cigarette" grammatically correct?

While you might encounter the phrase "up the cigarette" in informal contexts, it's generally not considered grammatically standard. It is better to use phrases like "light up a cigarette".

When is it appropriate to use "up the cigarette"?

Given the phrase's ambiguity and non-standard usage, it's best to avoid "up the cigarette" in formal writing. In casual conversation, more direct phrases are preferable.

What's a more descriptive alternative to "up the cigarette"?

Consider using phrases like "light the cigarette" to describe igniting a cigarette, or "finish the cigarette" to indicate completing it.