Notch up means achieve another result and add it to your record: the team notched up its fifth consecutive victory. A notch is a small cut or mark: every win, year or hundred hours is one more. It's common in sports news and stories about achievements: the volunteer group has notched up ten years of service.
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notch up a win / achievement / milestone
- The team notched up its fifth consecutive victory.
- The volunteer group has notched up ten years of service.
- The pilot notched up another hundred hours in the air.
What changed
First versionThe team has notch up its first win.
RevisionThe team has notched up its first win.
After has it's easy to keep the base form: has notch up. But after has you need the third form: has notched up its first win. Notch is a regular verb, so just add -ed.
Achieve means reach a goal, neutrally. Notch up means add one more result to the ones you already have: she notched up her third medal. Take it up a notch is something else entirely: push harder, move to the next level.
Your turn
Complete the expression meaning achieve or record a result: The club notched ___ another victory.
Show the answer
up — Adding a result to your record is notch up. Notch down has no such meaning.
Describe a person or team that notched up another achievement.
The community choir notched up its fiftieth public performance at the town festival.
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