What it means
Used for someone who's getting above themselves, acting stuck-up, bossy, or a bit too grand for the room. You can say it jokingly when a mate's being precious, or throw it sharper when someone's making demands like they own the place. It's got an old-school feel, and in the US it also carries ugly historical baggage because it was used as a racist put-down.
Usage examples
"Dave got well uppity when I said his signature dish was beans on toast with paprika. Started talking like he’s Gordon Ramsay. Wind your neck in, mate."
"Karen has gone proper uppity since she got promoted, walks past her old desk without even saying hello, and orders flat whites with three pumps of vanilla now."
"Do not get uppity with the barista, mate, he has been on his feet since six and he is not going to remember which oat milk costs extra during the morning rush."
"He got a bit uppity when they asked him to queue like everyone else, talking like the whole shop should stop and salute him."
"Don’t get uppity with me just because you learned two office buzzwords and bought a blazer."
Where it comes from
Recorded in US English in the late 1800s, uppity comes from up plus the suffix -ity. It grew as a sneering label for people seen as overstepping their social place. In the US it was also used in a racist way against Black people who weren't being deferential, so that history still sticks to it.
