stunt up

v. to enhance or improve with special (flashy, eye-catching) additions. Subjects: English, Slang

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Citations: 1991 Georgina Henry Guardian (U.K.) (1991) “The shape of things to come at ITV” p. 23: Stripping will continue, but not much more than we have already. But there will also be “stunting up the schedule:” times when we break out of stripping with a one-off movie or event. 1992 Sheena McDonald Guardian (U.K.) (Aug. 17) “Scud-FM goes critical—BBC gears up for round-the-clock news service” p. 25: Sceptics recall the reality of Gulf coverage as wastes of half-informed speculation by retired military men, punctuated by theatrical press conferences stunted up by the US military, complete with video inserts and the wit and wisdom of Stormin’ Norman. 1995 Jim Bawden Toronto Star (Can.) (July 22) “Mean Streets” p. SW32: I found 90 per cent had never pulled a gun in their careers. And of those who did, only 1 per cent ever fired, because you go through a three-stage process of verbal warning, taking the gun out of the holster, clicking it, then, and only then, aiming. On NYPD Blue they blast in every episode. But we’re reality—we don’t do it to stunt up ratings. 2004 Dick Jones Dick Jones’ Patteran Pages (May 3) “Business as Usual”: If the pictures were posed—“stunted up,” in the parlance—it merely highlights one relatively mild stage in a consistent pattern of gross behaviour on the part of a small number of soldiers. The progress from “stunting up” apparent persecution sessions for the amusement of self & others to actually engaging in acts ranging from ritual humiliation through to torturing a victim to death is steady & logical, & for some the movement across the spectrum will be inexorable.

Posted 7 May 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend