Honest, moral, and respectable; a person of good character and high standards.
From 'up' (vertical direction) plus 'standing' (standing position), literally meaning 'standing upright,' which evolved metaphorically to mean 'morally upright.' Usage dates to the 17th century.
The phrase 'standing upright' was deliberately chosen to describe moral goodness because throughout cultures, standing tall is associated with dignity and strength, while slouching or being bent over suggests shame or weakness!
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