How do you use "Knees-up" in a sentence?

We're having a knees-up for his birthday. It turned into a proper knees-up. What a knees-up that was! Fancy a knees-up?

Knees-up

Q: What does "Knees-up" mean?

A lively party with dancing (British) British term for a boisterous party, especially one involving dancing and drinking. From an old song about lifting your knees.

Slang Term British ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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Meaning: A lively party with dancing (British)

热闹的舞会派对（英式）

Fiesta animada con baile (británico)

賑やかなダンスパーティー（イギリス式）

흥겨운 댄스 파티 (영국식)

British term for a boisterous party, especially one involving dancing and drinking. From an old song about lifting your knees.

英式用语，指热闹的派对，尤其是有跳舞和喝酒的。来自一首关于抬腿跳舞的老歌。

Término británico para una fiesta animada, especialmente con baile y bebida. De una vieja canción sobre levantar las rodillas.

イギリス英語で、特にダンスとお酒を伴う賑やかなパーティーを指す。膝を上げて踊る古い歌から来ている。

춤과 음주가 동반되는 떠들썩한 파티를 뜻하는 영국식 표현. 무릎을 높이 들어 올리라는 옛 노래에서 유래.

Examples

We're having a knees-up for his birthday.
我们要为他的生日办个热闹派对。
Vamos a hacer una fiesta por su cumpleaños.
彼の誕生日にパーティーを開く。
그의 생일에 파티를 열 거야.
It turned into a proper knees-up.
变成了一场真正的狂欢。
Se convirtió en una fiesta de verdad.
本格的なパーティーになった。
제대로 된 파티가 되었다.
What a knees-up that was!
那派对真热闹！
¡Qué fiesta fue!
すごいパーティーだった！
정말 대단한 파티였어!
Fancy a knees-up?
想来场狂欢吗？
¿Te apetece una fiesta?
パーティーしたい？
파티할래?

Pronunciation

/niːz ʌp/

Usage Guide

Context: parties, celebrations, social

Tone: festive, working-class

✓ Do Say

Having a knees-up.
办个热闹派对
Hacer una fiesta
パーティーを開く
파티를 열다.
What a knees-up!
好热闹的派对！
¡Qué fiesta!
すごいパーティー！
대단한 파티!
Proper knees-up.
正宗的狂欢
Fiesta de verdad
本格的なパーティー
제대로 된 파티.

✗ Don't Say

Very British
非常英式
Muy británico
とてもイギリス的
매우 영국적 표현
Slightly old-fashioned
有点老派
Algo anticuado
やや古風
다소 구식인 표현

Common Mistakes

British specific
From a music hall song

Origin & History

From the music hall song 'Knees Up Mother Brown' (1938). Lifting knees in dancing became synonymous with lively parties.

Etymology: From song 'Knees Up Mother Brown' (1938)

First recorded: British slang from 1940s

Cultural Context

Era: 1940s onwards

Generation: All ages but slightly old-fashioned

Social background: Working-class origins

Pop culture: 'Knees Up Mother Brown' song; Cockney culture

Regional notes: British, especially London/working-class. Americans won't understand.

Variations

Knees-upA knees-upProper knees-up