Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a look, a scrutiny; usu. in phr. give [...] an/the up-and-down.

1914		T.A. Dorgan Indoor Sports 25 Mar. [synd. cartoon] Get a glass and give yourself the up and down. Some lid, Joe.
1923		Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 24: I gave the couple the wary up-and-down.
1934		S. Walker City Editor 60: The art reporter has been giving Diego Rivera’s stuff the up and down all afternoon.
1952		W. Winchell On Broadway 11 Aug. [synd. col.] He gave them all the UpandDown.
1975		‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 127: Giving me a quick up and down with light-coloured eyes.
1992		R. Price Clockers 183: She gave him the up and down. ‘You don’t even belong here.’.
2000		R.G. Barrett Leaving Bondi (2013) [ebook] Simone gave Monique another very heavy once up and down.

2. attrib. use of sense 1.

1952

W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 176: Turkey handed Arky the gun, gave Robbie a quick up-and-down, insolent look, then went out.

3. information.

1922

S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 140: Shoot the up and down to Jackson.

4. an official investigation.

1928

Phila. Eve. Bulletin 5 Oct. 40/1: ‘Whaddaya mean! Are yuh getting th’ snakes? Th’ bulls are taking it, ain’t they?’ ‘Yeh, but most of ’em are nuts, since this up-and-down.’.