up their arse

USAGE SUMMARY

"up their arse" is correct and usable in written English, though it is informal and can be considered vulgar. You can use it in contexts where you want to express frustration or annoyance with someone's behavior or attitude. Example: "He always thinks he knows better, but he really has his head up their arse." Alternative expressions include "in their own world" and "full of themselves."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"I think some people rebel by slamming doors and telling their parents to shove it up their arse.

The Guardian

Maybe after doing something as ridiculous as voluntarily putting a hose pipe up their arse, people are ashamed to admit it may have been pointless.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Turns out it's not only rottweilers you can stop biting by sticking a finger up their arse.

The Guardian - Film

But that's far more enjoyable than somebody who's really precious about their work and has got their head up their arse".

The Guardian - Music

I'd like to think that if I were a member of One Direction – even Louis – I'd have told the Brits to stick that tokenistic award up their arse, demanding something meaningful or nothing at all.

The Guardian - Music

At its worst, this is a bit like going on holiday with someone who's visited your destination before, and behaves like a squawking tourist guide the whole time you're there, pointing out the best cafes and choosing from the menu on your behalf until you feel like ramming their digital camera up their arse, just so they'll be able to take home a picture of something they haven't seen before.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

And as for the eccentric alternative acts whom Lee does so much to champion – the Andrew Baileys, Chris Lynams and Simon Munnerys, fireworks sizzling up their arses and buckets on their heads – well, live comedy at its weirdest will always be script-proof, and much the better for it.

The Guardian

They were going up their arses; iii.

Vice

The grown-ups in number 13 Richmond Road, despite having metaphorical poles up their arses which make them ill at ease with each other, try to enjoy themselves.

The Guardian

"They can stick my heart up their arses!" Gil's heart gave up for the last time a little over a year later.

The Guardian - Sport

They can stick their fucking baguettes up their arses!" Photo by Natasha Bright.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase to emphasize extreme frustration, dismissal, or a perception of someone's total self-absorption.

Common error

Avoid using the American spelling "ass" if you are aiming for a specifically British voice or if your surrounding text uses British English spelling conventions. Additionally, be careful not to confuse "arse" with "there" or "their" in sentences like "head up their arse", as "their" is the possessive pronoun required here.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up their arse" typically functions as a prepositional phrase used within larger idiomatic constructions. In many instances provided by Ludwig, it acts as the complement to verbs of movement or placement like "shove", "stick", or "ram". It is also frequently found in the stative idiom "to have one's head up their arse", indicating a state of arrogance or lack of awareness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Informal Speech

10%

Arts & Culture

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "up their arse" is a common British vulgarity used to express deep dismissal, frustration, or a critique of arrogance. According to Ludwig, the expression appears frequently in News & Media outlets like The Guardian and Vice, often to convey a sense of raw, authentic reaction or to characterize self-important figures. While Ludwig AI classifies it as grammatically correct within its idiomatic context, writers must remain aware of its high vulgarity. It is almost exclusively found in British English contexts, where its counterpart "up their own backsides" serves as a slightly more polite (though still informal) alternative. Use it only when the tone permits aggressive colloquialism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up their own asses

The American English equivalent of the query phrase.

up their own backsides

A slightly milder British alternative that still conveys arrogance or self-absorption.

full of themselves

A non-vulgar way to describe someone who is self-important.

stuck-up

An adjective describing the same personality trait without the anatomical reference.

self-absorbed

A neutral descriptive term for the behavior described by the idiom.

arrogant

A formal adjective that captures the semantic essence of being self-involved.

pretentious

Suggests an affectation of importance often linked to the phrase in arts and media.

conceited

Focuses specifically on the excessive pride implied by the idiom.

in their own world

Focuses on the detachment from reality often implied by the phrase.

unreasonable

Describes the result of having one's head in such a position.

FAQs

Is "up their arse" considered offensive?

Yes, it is considered vulgar and offensive in most formal settings. Depending on the context, you might choose a milder alternative like "up their own backsides" or "arrogant".

What is the difference between "up their arse" and "up their ass"?

The primary difference is regional spelling. "Arse" is the standard British English spelling, while "up their ass" is the American English equivalent.

How do you use "up their arse" in a sentence correctly?

It is often used with the verb 'stick' or 'shove' to show defiance, such as: "They can stick their award up their arse." It can also describe a person: "He is so "up his own arse" he doesn't notice anyone else."

What can I say instead of "up their arse" to sound more professional?

In professional environments, it is better to use terms like "self-absorbed", "pretentious", or "unreasonable".