Hurry up vs Move your ass

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Hurry up

InformalTop 2,000 (common)

Move your ass

SlangBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Hurry upMost common: Hurry up
 Hurry upMove your ass
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ʌp//🇬🇧 //muːv jɔːr æs//🇺🇸 //muːv jɔʊr æs//
MeaningDo something faster.Get going or hurry up.
ExampleYou need to hurry up or we will miss the train!You need to move your ass if you want to catch the bus!
RegisterInformalSlang
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Collocationshurry up and wait, hurry up before, hurry up tomove your body, move quickly, move faster
Common mistakesOmitting 'up', saying just 'hurry'., 'Hurry up' used in formal writing., Using 'hurry up' without an object or activity.Used in formal situations where it sounds disrespectful., Confusing with 'move your feet', which is not the same expression., Misinterpreted as a polite request.
Usage notesCommonly used in casual contexts to prompt someone to act more quickly. Avoid in formal situations.Used informally to encourage someone to hurry. May be offensive to some; context matters.

See it in real clips

Hurry up
Move your ass

Frequently asked questions: Hurry up vs Move your ass

What's the difference between Hurry up and Move your ass?

Hurry up: Do something faster. Move your ass: Get going or hurry up.

Which is more formal: Hurry up and Move your ass?

Hurry up is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Hurry up and Move your ass?

Hurry up is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Hurry up: You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! Move your ass: You need to move your ass if you want to catch the bus!

Can I use Hurry up and Move your ass interchangeably?

Not always. Hurry up and Move your ass are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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