Trip up Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Physical Movement Use 'trip up' when someone physically stumbles, often by accident. She tripped up on the loose tile. Pro Tip 2/3Visual Imagery Imagine someone tripping over something like a cord, helps remember how 'trip up' is used. Watch out so you don't trip up over that electrical wire! Pro Tip 3/3Accidental Action 'Trip up' usually means the action was not intentional; it just happened. I didn't see the step and tripped up.