Upthrust
Volume Price Analysis glossary · Support, Resistance & Breakout Mechanics
Definition
A Wyckoff term for a candle that pushes above the ceiling of resistance but closes back below it; a bearish trap that lures breakout buyers before reversing.
Upthrust in plain English
Resistance is a price ceiling where sellers have repeatedly stopped the price from rising — like a lid on a jar. An Upthrust is a sneaky move where the price briefly pops the lid (breaks above the ceiling), tempting eager buyers to jump in expecting a big run, but then it snaps back down and closes below the ceiling again. It's a trap: the big players pushed the price up just to trigger those buyers, then sold into them, so the failed breakout often signals the price is about to fall. If you see the lid pop and slam shut on high volume, be suspicious of that 'breakout.'
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