What Does SOMEBODY’S NUMBER IS UP mean?

What’s the meaning of SOMEBODY’S NUMBER IS UP? How and when to use this expression? Can it be used in formal speech and writing?

If you’ve ever watched an American movie or crime series and heard someone say, “His number is up,” you may have wondered what that idiom really means.

In this blog post, you’ll learn the meaning of “somebody’s number is up,” how to use this English idiom naturally, its origin, common synonyms, and important notes about register and usage.

Whether you are a teacher or a learner of English, understanding expressions like somebody’s number is up will expand your idiomatic vocabulary and improve your fluency in real-world English.

What Does “Somebody’s Number Is Up” Mean?

The expression “somebody’s number is up” means:

The person is about to face serious consequences — often death, punishment, or the end of something important.

In many contexts, it suggests that someone’s time has run out. The consequences may be literal (death) or figurative (losing a job, getting arrested, being exposed).

It often carries a dramatic or fatalistic tone.

Simple explanation:

• If a criminal says, “My number’s up,” he may mean he’s about to be caught.
• In a war movie, a soldier saying, “I guess my number’s up,” suggests he feels death is near.
• In a business context, it might mean someone is about to be fired.

So, “somebody’s number is up” = their time is over.

Examples of “Somebody’s Number Is Up”

Here are some examples showing how the idiom is used in real-life English:

• After years of corruption, the politician knew his number was up.
• When the boss called me into her office, I thought my number was up.
• The fugitive realized his number was up when he saw police cars outside.
• In the final battle scene, the villain knows his number is up.
• He gambled with his health for years — eventually, his number was up.
• When the audit started, several executives felt their numbers were up.
• She had cheated too many people; sooner or later, her number was going to be up.
• The boxer took one last punch and understood his number was up.
• After missing so many deadlines, I figured my number was up.
• In horror movies, there’s always that moment when a character realizes their number is up.

Notice how the idiom can refer to:

• Death
• Arrest
• Getting fired
• Being exposed
• Losing power

When and How to Use This Expression

The idiom “somebody’s number is up” is:

• Informal to semi-formal
• More common in spoken English
• Frequent in movies, novels, and dramatic contexts
• Less common in academic or formal writing

Tone

It usually carries:

• A dramatic tone
• A fatalistic feeling
• A sense of inevitability

Grammar pattern

The structure is:

Somebody’s number + is/was + up

Examples:

• My number is up.
• His number was up.
• Their number will be up soon.

It is rarely used in the progressive form (not “is being up”).

For teachers: this is a great idiom to introduce when working on narrative storytelling, crime vocabulary, or idiomatic expressions related to fate and consequences.

Origin of “Somebody’s Number Is Up”

The origin of “somebody’s number is up” is commonly linked to:

1. Lotteries and number drawings – When your number was drawn, your turn had arrived.
2. Military service drafts – In wartime, numbers were drawn to determine who would serve.
3. Execution lists or prison systems – Prisoners were often identified by numbers rather than names.

The core idea is simple:
When your number is called, your moment has arrived — and not always in a good way.

Over time, the idiom evolved into a figurative expression meaning someone’s fate is sealed.

Synonyms and Related Slang Expressions

Here are some similar expressions with comparable meanings:

• Your time is up
• The game is over
• It’s the end of the line
• The jig is up (informal – your secret has been discovered)
• You’re done
• Your luck has run out
• It’s curtains for someone (very informal / dramatic)
• The clock has run out
• You’re finished
• The party’s over

Each of these expressions shares the core semantic idea of finality, consequences, or unavoidable endings, just like somebody’s number is up.

In a Nutshell…

The idiom “somebody’s number is up” means that someone’s time has run out and serious consequences are about to happen. It is commonly used in dramatic, informal, or narrative contexts and often suggests inevitability.

By mastering expressions like somebody’s number is up, learners move beyond textbook English and into authentic, real-world communication.

Add this idiom to your active vocabulary — and hopefully, your number won’t be up anytime soon.