to lift someone's spirits
17
3.9
- idiom
- The bye week and the firing probably haven't lifted anyone's spirits.
Examples
-
He shares funny stories to lift his colleagues' spirits during tough times.
-
She also felt that we children could lift my grandparents' spirits in their bereft state.
Academic text (2006) -
The musician said he didn't feel he would do a good job volunteering at a shelter, so he was doing what he knew best: making music to lift people's spirits.
Blog text (32) -
Dr. Smith had heard how Ellis and two others had saved the life of the German officer, so he had moved Lindheim into this ward in the hope that he could help lift Ellis's spirits.
Fiction book (1992) -
The restaurant was always cheery, and the delectable sight of steaming pasta being carried from the kitchen lifted Sarah's spirits.
Fiction book (1992) -
He took time off work, and he spent every moment that he could in her radiant presence, and she did what a pretty girl could do to lift a man's darkened spirits, which was plenty.
Fiction book (2002) -
A surprise party can really lift someone's spirits when they are feeling down.
-
She tried to lift her friend's spirits by taking her out for ice cream.
Synonyms
412
1.5
Help someone feel happier when they are sad or sick
248
1.0
To make someone feel happier
236
1.4
To feel happier after being sad or to make someone feel happier
125
3.4
To make people or a situation feel more cheerful
111
4.1
To become or make someone feel more cheerful and relaxed
85
1.0
Cause someone to feel happy or amused
81
4.3
To give extra support to a person, plan, or idea
64
3.2
To make someone feel happier and more hopeful
61
3.0
To give someone a lot of happiness, often by a small kind act
48
2.3
To make someone feel happy
31
3.1
Become more lively and cheerful after feeling tired or sad
22
3.7
To make someone feel happier and more hopeful
22
2.7
Make a room or person more cheerful
15
7.0
Make someone feel happier and full of energy
14
5.5
Make someone feel happier or more confident
7
3.7
Make people feel more confident and positive
6
3.4
Help someone feel happier
1
5.3
To make someone feel more cheerful and confident
1
6.4
To make someone feel very happy and proud
1
6.0
Help someone stop being sad and start smiling
1
8.2
To try to make someone feel happier when they are sad
1
7.5
To make someone feel happy and warm inside
1
5.5
Make someone feel less sad and more cheerful
To make someone feel happier
To make someone feel happier or more cheerful
To make someone feel happier or more lively
Antonyms
- Informal
153
4.3
Cause a person or thing to be worse, for example making someone feel sad
How Happy
1
6.4
31
2.1
17
3.9
- Informal
236
1.4
172
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to make someone feel happier' is directly derivable from combining 'lift' (to raise) with 'spirit(s)' (mood/energy): the phrase literally suggests raising someone's mood. This compositional metaphor (raising mood) is common in English and other languages and follows regular verb + noun patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will likely infer the meaning.
Etymology
Lift someone's spirits uses the clear image of lift and spirits. Imagine a friend lifting a heavy bag so it feels lighter — when someone lifts another person's spirits, they make a sad mood feel lighter, in other words 'to make someone feel happier'.