up sticks
Leave one's home
Up sticks means to move house or relocate, especially suddenly or without much planning.
The phrase is chiefly British: They upped sticks and moved to Cornwall.
The sticks in question likely refer to tent poles or household goods—the things you'd pack up when leaving.
Also appears as up stakes in American English.
Act of going away
- farewellLeave-taking expression
- leave-takingAct of saying goodbye
- goodbyeDeparting salutation
- exodusMass departure from somewhere
expatriation · diaspora · refugees · asylum · emigrating · visa · passport · homeland
Spiritual or physical regeneration
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
- changeTo make different
- transformationThorough change in form
- opportunityFavorable circumstance for advancement
chapter · beginning · leap · reset · adventure · unknown · horizons · possibilities
Emotionally affecting
- packingPutting items in containers
- boxesSix-sided containers
- furnitureMovable room objects
- unpackingRemoving items from containers
househunting · lease · rental · realtor · forwarding · removalists · conveyancing · settlement
Acting without deliberation
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- spur-of-the-momentDone without advance planning
unplanned · whim · snap-decision · overnight · unexpected · rash · precipitous · impromptu
departure
Act of going away
- farewellLeave-taking expression
- leave-takingAct of saying goodbye
- goodbyeDeparting salutation
exodus · expatriation · diaspora · refugees · asylum · emigrating · visa · passport · homeland · uprooting
rebirth
Spiritual or physical regeneration
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
- changeTo make different
- transformationThorough change in form
opportunity · chapter · beginning · leap · reset · adventure · unknown · horizons · possibilities · second-chance
moving
Emotionally affecting
unpacking · househunting · lease · rental · realtor · forwarding · removalists · conveyancing · settlement · utilities
impulsive
Acting without deliberation
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
spur-of-the-moment · unplanned · whim · snap-decision · overnight · unexpected · rash · precipitous · impromptu · offhand
up stickssettle down
Become calm or established
stay put · put down roots · remain · stick around · stay
up sticksput down roots
Establish a permanent home
plant roots · take root · settle in · nest · bed in
stick, sticky, stuck, sticks, sticking, unstuck, unstick, stickup, unsticks