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chalk up

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chalk something up

 

1. Lit. to write something on a chalkboard. Let me chalk this formula up so you all can see it. I'll chalk up the formula.

2. Fig. to add a mark or point to one's score. See also chalk something up (against someone).) Chalk another goal for Sarah. Chalk up another basket for the other side.

See also: chalk, up

chalk something up

(against someone) Fig. to blame someone for something; to register something against someone. I will have to chalk another fault up against Fred. She chalked up a mark against Dave.

See also: chalk, up

chalk something up (to something)

Fig. to recognize something as the cause of something else. We chalked her bad behavior up to her recent illness. I had to chalk up the loss to inexperience.

See also: chalk, up

chalk up something

also chalk something up

to record something special Many banks chalked up large profits from their loans to internet companies.

Etymology: based on the idea of keeping a record on a chalk board

See also: chalk, up

chalk up

1. Score or earn, as in She chalked up enough points to be seeded first in the tournament. This term alludes to recording accounts (and later, scores) in chalk on a slate. [c. 1700]

2. Credit or ascribe, as They chalked their success up to experience. [First half of 1900s]

See also: chalk, up

chalk up

v.

1. To earn or score something: The baseball team chalked up four runs in the last inning.

2. To credit or ascribe something: Let's just chalk the mistakes up to experience and try to do better on the next project.

See also: chalk, up