From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtrip up phrasal verb1 TRICK/DECEIVEto make a mistake, or to force someone to make a mistake by tricking them On his latest album, Kowalski trips up attempting more modern songs.trip somebody ↔ up an attempt to trip up the prime minister on policy issues2 FALLto hit something with your foot so that you fall, or to make someone do thistrip somebody ↔ up He chased the thief, tripped him up, and grabbed the camera. → trip→ See Verb table