up ground

[gamboler]

This is what I think they say in a US movie released in 1949:

Police officer #1: Why didn't I stay in Canada?
Police office #2: I wonder about that myself. Think of all the money you could have saved. Besides, if you had to be a cop, why didn't you do it up ground? Become a Mountie. Lots of tradition, pretty red uniform, ride your own horse, tea every afternoon at 4:00.

Does "up ground" make sense in this context? If that's the case, what does it mean here? Is it that they don't step on the ground because they are riding horses when on the beat?

 

[GoesStation]

Look up up town, and tell us the name of the film.

 

[teechar]

And provide a video clip if you can.

 

[gamboler]

Thanks GoesStation and teechar. My fault. It isn't "up ground" what he says. It's "up brown". I guess it means "do something to the maximum degree or with the maximum effect or impact".

 

[probus]

Probably "do it up proud" but I can't be sure without the audio. Gamboler, if you know the release date surely you must know the name of the film.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Saying "do it up brown" makes sense. That's certainly it.

But in future posts, please include the name of the movie!

 

[gamboler]

Piscean, please read this.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/es/diccionario/ingles/do-it-up-brown

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/do+up+brown

 

[SoothingDave]

I never heard that expression before. Probably best left in 1949. Nowadays, people would think "brown" means UPS.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

That's a new one on me.

I've heard it, but not often.

It's very old-fashioned.

 

[probus]

Well gamboler, you learned at least two things by consulting us:

1. Do it up brown is exclusively American. Speakers of BrE probably don't know the expression.

2. Although older people like me (age 73) understand the phrase, it is no longer in use even in America. Younger folks like SoothingDave may never have run across it.