What does it mean to order a drink neat, up or on the rocks?

The answer

Neat means a spirit poured by itself, at room temperature, with no ice and no mixer. Up means a drink that has been chilled by shaking or stirring and then strained into a stemmed glass without ice. On the rocks means the drink is served over ice in a short glass. These three terms describe temperature and ice, not strength. If you are not sure which you prefer, tell the bartender what you like and ask for their suggestion. They are used to the question.