up-front

♦ adj

1 FRANK, direct, open, honest, truthful, sincere, genuine, candid, blunt, free, plain, plain-spoken, forthright, straight, straightforward, downright, hard-hitting, outspoken, explicit, bluff

COLLOQ. straight from the shoulder

2

an up-front payment

advance, initial, first, introductory, primary

≠ 1 insincere, evasive

♦ adv

in advance, initially, beforehand, early, earlier, sooner

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\\¦ ̷ ̷ ¦ ̷ ̷ \ adjective

: being or coming in or at the front: as

a.

(1) : being in a conspicuous or leading position or role

these are very up-front and obvious prejudices — Clive Barnes

I believe I help the city by being up-front and visible — Edward Koch

(2) : open : forthright : frank

wishes Hollywood producers would be a bit more up-front on the subject — People

b. : playing in a front line (as in football, hockey, or soccer)

c. : paid or incurred in advance or at the beginning

up-front interest charges

offered $2 million in up-front cash — Tommy Thompson

d. usually upfront : of, relating to, or constituting advertisement sales or acquisitions done shortly before the beginning of a new television season

the up-front market

up-front sales

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/up"frunt"/, Informal.

adj. Also, upfront.

1. invested or paid in advance or as beginning capital: an up-front fee of five percent and an additional five percent when the job is done.

2. honest; candid; straightforward: He's very up-front about discussing his past.

3. conspicuous or prominent: The company has an up-front position in its industry.

4. located in the front or forward section: to request up-front seats on a plane.

adv. Also, up front.

5. as an initial investment, beginning capital, or an advance payment: They'll need a half-million dollars up-front before opening the business.

6. before other payments, deductions, or returning a profit: Estimated operating expenses will be deducted up-front.

[1965-70]

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up front «UHP _FRUHNT», adverb

1. at the front: »

The children crowded up front to catch a glimpse of the parade floats going by.

2. in advance: »

He paid for everything up front—no credit, just cash and carry.

up-front or upfront «UHP _FRUHNT», adjective.

1. U.S. Informal. not concealed; direct; forthright: »

an up-front attitude toward racism. The up-front public business he had to do…was done for him by his surrogates (Newsweek).

2. paid at the outset or in advance: »

upfront costs.

● ↑up front

U.S. Informal. a) in advance: »

The book then went to thirty other publishers…One offered $40,000 up front if all the proper changes were made (Harper's).

b) in an open or straightforward manner: »

He…held that it would be better to finance such projects “up front”—that is, with Government appropriations or other means that permitted full and clear public knowledge of the total costs (New York Times).

c) in the open or foreground: »

Vanocur is at ABC as an executive…and Chancellor works up front, using his face muscles more than his leg muscles (New Yorker).

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/ˌʌpˈfrʌnt/ adj

1 [more \up-front; most \up-front] : not keeping anything secret or hidden : honest and direct

I have been very up-front with you.

They were up-front about their financial position.

2

— used to refer to money that is paid in advance

The deal requires more up-front cash than I can come up with.

up-front fees

see also up front at ↑front, 1