up their bum

USAGE SUMMARY

"up their bum" is correct and usable in written English, though it is informal and may be considered vulgar in some contexts. You can use it in casual conversations or humorous contexts, often to imply that someone is overly concerned with something trivial or to describe a situation where someone is being overly uptight. Example: "He was so worried about the presentation that he had a stick up his bum." Alternative expressions include "up their rear" and "up their backside."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

If it's not as straightforward as the slick FM rock found on the Mercury prize-winning Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (Captain Beefheart was apparently not a fan of that one), at least its 40 minutes passes without anyone getting anything shoved up their bum.

The Guardian - Music

A man who went out, without knowing, with a lady who whipped people, and who went on business to a place where some other ladies will dance their bum on your winky if it is under some trousers, is helping the papers to be able to carry on making money by saying that someone else had a thing put up their bum or another person kissed two people at once.

The Guardian - Opinion

They'd be too busy with their heads up their bum".

The Guardian - Music

Inmates on work release routinely sneaked contraband into jail up their bum.

Vice

They're more likely to stick a good old-fashioned penis up their bum, if they're a gent.

Vice

And yes, there is a record, because this is not the only time someone has taken the capsules out of the beloved treats and shoved 'em way up their bum to get some drugs into prison.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"You used to see these massive personalities from a great distance," he ponders, "and now you see quite ordinary people so close you can see up their bums.

The Guardian - Music

Comics put mobile phones up their bums – I've seen this.

The Guardian

They're all born with silver spoons up their bums.

Vice

You may remember the story from July, of two brother who'd shoved £25,000 worth of heroin up their bums – smuggled, obviously, in Kinder Eggs.

Vice

According to Sam this makes it easier access if another inmate wants to target them for a sexual assault: "I warn my clients about this, I tell them to stop putting their mobile phones up their bums.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience's sensitivity to anatomical slang, as the phrase can be perceived as mild vulgarity in certain professional environments.

Common error

Writers often mistakenly use this phrase in professional or academic contexts thinking it is a safe euphemism. In reality, it remains highly informal. Use "rectally" or "into the rectum" for technical clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up their bum" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase indicating location or direction. In many instances found on Ludwig, it is used as part of a verb phrase describing the physical insertion of objects (smuggling, medical treatment, or accidents). Ludwig AI shows that the phrase also appears in idiomatic constructions, though usually in its variant form involving a stick.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up their bum" is a distinctly informal prepositional phrase most prevalent in British English. Ludwig AI demonstrates that while the phrase is grammatically solid, its usage is heavily concentrated in News & Media and anecdotal contexts rather than formal literature. It serves both literal and idiomatic purposes, often appearing in reports about smuggling or medical mishaps, as well as in metaphors for being uptight. Writers should be cautious of its Informal register and consider using more polite alternatives like "backside" or clinical terms like "rectally" when the audience or context requires a higher level of decorum. The phrase remains a staple of conversational and tabloid English, providing a blunt, often humorous way to describe anatomical placement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up their ass

Uses American slang and is generally considered more aggressive or vulgar

up their arse

The direct British English equivalent using a slightly more common vulgarism

up their butt

A very common American colloquialism that is less vulgar than ass

up their backside

Provides a slightly more polite and euphemistic alternative for general conversation

up their rear

A softer euphemism often used in family-friendly or semi-formal contexts

up their bottom

Commonly used in British English when speaking to children or in very mild contexts

rectally

Shifts the phrase to a clinical or medical adverbial form

in their rectum

Changes the preposition and uses anatomical terminology for higher precision

anally

A formal anatomical adverb often used in technical or medical descriptions

keistering

Specific prison slang referring to the act of hiding contraband in that location

FAQs

What does it mean to have a stick up their bum?

This is an idiomatic expression used to describe someone who is being overly formal, rigid, or uptight. You could also say someone has a "stick up their ass" in American English.

Is it rude to use up their bum in a sentence?

It is generally considered informal and mildly vulgar. If you need to be more polite, you should use "up their backside" or "up their rear" instead.

Can I use up their bum in professional writing?

No, it is unsuitable for professional contexts. Depending on the meaning, use "concerning them" or more clinical terms like "rectal administration".

How do you spell up their bum in American English?

While bum is understood, Americans are more likely to use "up their butt" or "up their ass" for the same concept.