The phrase "were up about" indicates that something has increased, risen, or improved. Antonyms for this phrase could include "were down about," which means that something has decreased, fallen, or worsened. Other antonyms may include "level," indicating that there has been no change, or "were stagnant," meaning that there has been no movement in either direction. Another opposite of "were up about" could be "were unstable," suggesting that there has been frequent fluctuations in either direction, and there is no overall trend of improvement or decline. Ultimately, the antonym for "were up about" depends on the situation and context in which it is used.