to light up a room
3
3.4
- idiom
- Informal
:
iluminar una habitación
- With her infectious laughter, she can light up a room and make everyone smile.
- a smile that could light up a room
Examples
-
He lights up a room.
-
Mom had a smile that could light up a room.
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You just light up a room.
-
In fact, she lights up a room so much, it's a little suspicious.
-
What else lights up a room with sparkles like the sun?
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Be the person that lights up a room and ask people see what's possible, what is available for us, what we could do versus that other negative energy.
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Be the person that lights up a room and has people see what's possible, what is available for us, what we could do versus that other negative energy.
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Her positive energy always helps to light up a room when she enters.
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His stories have a magical way of lighting up a room and uplifting everyone's spirits.
Synonyms
104
3.4
To make people or a situation feel more cheerful
27
2.7
To make a place or thing look more cheerful by adding color
23
3.2
To make someone feel happier and more hopeful
17
2.7
Make a room or person more cheerful
8
3.9
To make someone feel happier
6
3.7
Become lively and cheerful because someone is there
6
4.1
Make something more active and interesting
5
4.1
To make a place or event feel lively and energetic
3
3.8
Make a room feel happy and friendly when someone arrives
1
3.9
To make someone feel happier when they are sad
1
2.9
Make a room feel more lively and cheerful
1
3.4
Help someone feel happier
To make a room feel happier and more lively
To create a mood in a place with light, music, or decorations
Antonyms
- Informal
36
4.3
Cause a person or thing to be worse, for example making someone feel sad
How Cheerful
- US
65
3.7
25
4.0
- Informal
3
3.4
- Informal
234
1.4
27
2.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The combination 'light' + 'up' clearly yields the literal sense 'to illuminate,' and the figurative meaning of making someone or the mood 'brighter' is a straightforward metaphorical extension of illumination. This metaphor is common across languages so learners may guess a positive/mood-related sense, but because it involves a non-literal transfer from physical light to emotional effect it is not fully predictable without exposure.
Etymology
Light up a room comes from the simple picture of a lamp that turns on and fills a dark room with light. When someone smiles or brings joy they seem to light the room, so the phrase means 'to bring happiness or energy' to others.