TO GET UP EARLY, verb. phr. (common).—To be astute; ready; wide-awake. Cf., ‘It’s the early bird that catches the worm.’

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  1738.  SWIFT, Polite Conversation, Dial. 3. They must RISE EARLY that would cheat her of her money.

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  c. 1889.  VANCE, Broadside Ballad.

        For to get me on the hop, or on my ‘tibby’ drop,
You must WAKE UP VERY EARLY in the morning.

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  1880.  A. TROLLOPE, The Duke’s Children, ch. xlvi. It was said of him that he knew on which side his bread was buttered, and that if you wished to take him in you must GET UP EARLY.

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