spirit up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive): * To infuse with spirit, energy, courage, or enthusiasm; to animate, encourage, or invigorate someone.
Usage
The verb "spirit up" is used to describe the act of lifting someone's mood, morale, or energy level. It implies injecting a positive force or vitality into a person or a situation that may be lacking it. It is often used in contexts involving motivation or encouragement.
Examples
- The coach's passionate speech spirited up the team before the championship game.
- We need some good news to spirit up the staff during this difficult project.
- Her cheerful presence always spirits me up when I'm feeling down.
Advanced Usage
- The phrasal verb is separable. The object (e.g., "him," "the team") can be placed between "spirit" and "up" or after the complete phrase.
- Correct: They spirited the crowd up. / They spirited up the crowd.
- It often carries a slightly literary or formal tone and is less common in everyday casual speech than synonyms like "cheer up" or "pump up."
Variants and Related Words
- Spirit (verb): To carry off or away secretly or mysteriously (e.g., "The documents were spirited away."). This is a distinct meaning from "spirit up."
- Inspirit (verb, archaic): A direct synonym meaning to infuse with spirit or animation.
Synonyms
- Encourage
- Animate
- Invigorate
- Energize
- Heartened
- Buoy up
- Pep up
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Cheer up: To make or become happier (more common and casual).
- Pump up: To fill with enthusiasm or energy (informal).
- Fire up: To inspire with enthusiasm or anger.
- Psych up: To prepare mentally, to make eager (informal).
Verb
- infuse with spirit
- The company spirited him up