spirit (redirected from spiriting)

as/when the spirit moves you (humorous)

if you do something when the spirit moves you, you only do it when you want to. He'll cook now and again, when the spirit moves him.

See also: move

enter/get into the spirit of something

to show that you are happy to be at a social event by talking to a lot of people, dancing, or wearing special clothes. 'Hey, I like your hat!' 'Well, I thought I'd better enter into the spirit of things.' I'm afraid I was feeling too ill to really get into the spirit of the evening.

See also: enter

a free spirit

someone who does what they want and does not feel limited by the usual rules of social behaviour. His brothers describe Nick as something of a free spirit, unconventional and adventurous.

See also: free

a guiding light/spirit

someone who influences a person or group and shows them how to do something successfully. She was the founder of the company, and for forty years its guiding light.

See also: light

the moving spirit (literary)

someone who starts an important organization or course of action. Born in Nkroful, Ghana, he was the moving spirit behind the Charter of African States. (often + behind)

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(when) the spirit moves you

when you want to or feel ready to. When the spirit moved her, she would work through the night. Public opinion can take a sharp turn any time the spirit moves them.

See also: move