(all) lit up like a Christmas tree
1. Covered in or decorated with many bright lights. They always have the bridge all lit up like a Christmas tree for the winter. It looks so beautiful when you drive over it in the dark. If you want to cycle at night, then make sure you're lit up like a Christmas tree before you get on the road. Thanks to that fancy new glow collar, Spike is all lit up like a Christmas tree on our nighttime walks now.
2. Very brightly or radiantly illuminated. Isn't the new porch light a little bright? The whole house is lit up like a Christmas tree now. A: "How am I supposed to sleep when you have the room all lit up like a Christmas tree?" B: "Well, I can't sleep in the dark knowing there's a bug in here!" Turn off the overhead light, will you? I'm going to light some candles—there's no need for the room to be lit up like a Christmas tree for dinner.
(one's) eyes light up
One becomes suddenly visibly excited. His eyes lit up when he realized that his parents had gotten him a brand new bike for his birthday. I love watching people's eyes light up when I tell them that they've got a winning lottery ticket. When Matt brought out one of the original action figures, in mint condition, I swear, my eyes lit up immediately.
be (all) lit up like a Christmas tree
1. To be covered in or decorated with many bright lights. The bridge is all lit up like a Christmas tree for the winter. It looks so beautiful when you drive over it in the dark. He cycles at night, so he's always lit up like a Christmas tree whenever he gets on the road. Thanks to that fancy new glow collar, Spike is all lit up like a Christmas tree on our nighttime walks now.
2. To be very brightly or radiantly illuminated. Isn't the new porch light a little bright? The whole house is lit up like a Christmas tree now. A: "How am I supposed to sleep when the room's lit up like a Christmas tree?" B: "Well, I can't sleep in the dark knowing there's a bug in here!" I'm going to light some candles—there's no need for the room to be lit up like a Christmas tree for dinner.
be lit
slang
1. To be drunk or intoxicated by drugs. The cocktail hour was more like two hours, so the wedding party was already pretty lit by the time dinner was served. The stoners are always lit at lunch time—they go to the creek just off of school grounds. You were pretty lit by the time I got to the party. Do you remember talking to me at all?
2. To be very exciting or cool; to be awesome. That party was totally lit, man! You should have been there! Oh yeah, her new album is lit. It's worth a listen even if you haven't loved her other stuff. I've heard that new superhero movie is lit, but I'm skeptical because I'm not a huge fan of the franchise.
gaslight
To manipulate someone psychologically so that they begin to doubt their experience of reality. The phrase comes from the 1938 play Gas Light, in which the protagonist attempts to induce insanity in his wife by constantly questioning or doubting her reports of strange events, such as the dimming of the house's gas lights (which has in fact occurred and is related to the husband's nefarious activities). You found legitimate evidence that your husband's having an affair, and don't let him gaslight you about it! I know I've seen some very questionable things go on in the back office, but any time I try to bring it up, management just gaslights me about it. I had to gaslight her! Otherwise, she was liable to expose my Ponzi scheme to the whole world!
get lit up
slang In sports, to have many points scored against one's team in a game. A: "Man, our goalie got lit up last night—five goals in the first 10 minutes." B: "I know, the defense totally left him out to dry." They have so many explosive batters that I'm worried our pitcher will get lit up tonight. It doesn't matter how solid your starter is if your bullpen gets lit up.
green light
1. verb To permit someone or something to proceed. Likened to the green light of a traffic signal. Do you think the production company will green light our film? Hey, did the boss green light any of the things you're doing? I thought he wanted to take a conservative approach. There's no way environmental agencies will green light this controversial new oil pipeline.
2. noun Permission to proceed with some action or task. We're just waiting to get the green light from our managers before we release the latest software update. Once I get the green light, I'll transfer your funds into the new account. Don't worry, I got the green light from Legal to call that guy back.
half-lit
slang Intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. Sorry I didn't call you last night—I had some wine, got half-lit, and fell asleep. Smells like pot in here—I guess some people are half-lit. No shots for me, thanks. I can't get half-lit tonight.
light (one's) hair on fire
1. To fill one with intense or overwhelming passion, often causing them to behave erratically or wildly. John and I have very different political leanings, so hearing him rant about these issues always lights my hair on fire. I don't want to settle for a lukewarm, casual fling—I want to be with a man who really lights my hair on fire, someone I connect with deeply and passionately.
2. By extension, to behave erratically or wildly. Sure, I used to party and really light my hair on fire as a teenager. But those days are long gone now that I'm a mom.
light (something) with (something)
1. To ignite or set fire to something with some incendiary means. If you prepare your fire properly with kindling and newspaper, you should be able to light it with a single match. The chain smoker lit a fresh cigarette with the end of his last one.
2. To use something in order to cover or fill some space with light. We had to light the entire house with candles after the electricity went out. Police lit the building with floodlights in order to see every single window.
light (up)on
1. To land or rest upon someone or something. The large black crow lighted on the telephone wire high above the street. As he walked into the room, his eyes lighted upon a gorgeous woman wearing a red dress.
2. To arrive at a thought or idea. The engineer lighted on a mathematical solution to the problem he'd been trying to solve all week.
3. To chance or happen upon; to discover by luck or chance. We'd been lost in the woods for hours. Thankfully, we eventually lit upon a small stream that led us to the lake next to the campground.
light a fire under (someone)
To motivate someone or something to take action. The deadline really lit a fire under us—we never would have gotten all that work done otherwise. Something must have lit a fire under Jenna—she has really started taking her schoolwork seriously.
light into (someone or something)
1. To verbally or physically attack or accost someone. He's been lighting into the customer service representative for about half an hour now over our canceled flight. You can't just light into him anytime he doesn't do what we say—he's just a child! The actor lit into the film industry for allowing such abhorrent behavior to go unchecked.
2. To begin or undertake some task or activity at once and with great enthusiasm. We lit into the project as soon as the meeting was over. She always lights into her assignments and has them completed well before anyone else in class.
3. To venture into some place or thing at once or with haste. The prisoner scaled the wall and lit into the night. The adventurer drew her machete and lit into the dense green jungle.
4. To begin eating something with great relish or appetite. The whole table had been lighting into the meal for nearly an hour, and there was still a ton of food left over.
light out
To flee hastily; to clear out or depart quickly. We lit out for the safe house as soon as we heard the police sirens in the distance. Everyone else started to light out of there when the manager announced he would be taking volunteers for weekend work.
light out for (some place)
To flee hastily for a particular destination; to clear out or depart quickly. We lit out for the safe house as soon as we heard the police sirens in the distance.
light the (blue) touch paper
To do something that instigates or initiates some intense or widespread action or reaction. (Touch paper is a strip of paper treated with potassium nitrate that is used as a fuse for explosives.) Primarily heard in UK. Their goal late in the first half seemed to light the blue touch paper for the team—they've shown much more energy and aggression on the pitch since then. The proposed law has lit the touch paper for activists, who have been gathering people and resources to protest it en masse.
light the fuse
To do something that instigates or initiates some intense, dangerous, and widespread action or reaction. Many have accused the leader of lighting the fuse for war with his inflammatory remarks. The law seems poised to light the fuse for protests across the nation should it be passed.
light up
1. To brighten or illuminate something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "light" and "up." Fireworks are lighting up the night sky. A sole candle lit the window up.
2. To become illuminated. The street lamps light up at dusk.
3. To focus a light source on someone or something. The flashlight lit up a stray cat in the bushes.
4. To become noticeably excited or animated at the sight of someone or something. I'm sure she likes you—she just lights up whenever you're around.
5. To cause someone to become noticeably excited or animated. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "light" and "up." I'm sure she likes you—you just light her up whenever you're around.
6. To light something that can be smoked, such as a cigarette. Please don't light up in my new car—I don't want it to smell like smoke.
7. To ignite something. I used a match to light up the pilot on the stove.
8. To become ignited or begin to burn. The firewood still hasn't lit up—what am I doing wrong?
9. sports, slang To score many points against and generally dominate one's opponent in a game. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "light" and "up." A: "Man, the Flyers lit our goalie up last night—five goals in the first 10 minutes." B: "Yeah, because our defense totally left him out to dry." They have so many explosive batters that I'm worried they'll seriously light up our pitchers tonight.
lit
slang
1. Drunk or intoxicated by drugs. The cocktail hour was more like two hours, so the wedding party was already pretty lit by the time dinner was served. He started hanging out with the stoners at lunch time, getting lit near the creek just off of school grounds.
2. Very exciting or cool; awesome. That party was totally lit, man! You should have been there! The popstar just released a lit new album.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.