to lift someone's spirits
1
3.9
- idiom
:
animar a alguien
- 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
392
1.0
To make someone feel happier
329
1.5
Help someone feel happier when they are sad or sick
234
1.4
To feel happier after being sad or to make someone feel happier
104
3.4
To make people or a situation feel more cheerful
84
4.3
To give extra support to a person, plan, or idea
69
4.1
To become or make someone feel more cheerful and relaxed
54
1.0
Cause someone to feel happy or amused
23
3.2
To make someone feel happier and more hopeful
19
6.4
To make someone feel very happy and proud
19
3.7
To make someone feel happier and more hopeful
17
2.7
Make a room or person more cheerful
16
3.1
Become more lively and cheerful after feeling tired or sad
13
5.5
Make someone feel happier or more confident
12
2.3
To make someone feel happy
8
2.8
To make someone feel happier or more cheerful
8
3.9
To make someone feel happier
5
3.7
Make people feel more confident and positive
3
7.0
Make someone feel happier and full of energy
2
7.5
To make someone feel happy and warm inside
2
3.0
To give someone a lot of happiness, often by a small kind act
1
3.4
Help someone feel happier
1
6.0
Help someone stop being sad and start smiling
To make someone feel more cheerful and confident
Make someone feel less sad and more cheerful
To try to make someone feel happier when they are sad
To make someone feel happier or more lively
Antonyms
- Informal
36
4.3
Cause a person or thing to be worse, for example making someone feel sad
How Happy
19
6.4
79
2.1
1
3.9
- Informal
234
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'.