be a hit with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be a hit with" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is popular or well-received by a particular group of people. Example: "The new restaurant is sure to be a hit with the locals." Alternative expressions include "be popular with," "be well-received by," and "appeal to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's sure to be a hit with our buyers".

The New York Times

Will London's theatreland be a hit with rich buyers?

The Times

So Scholastic knew it was going to be a hit with kids and their parents, too.

Harvard University

It would be a hit with children, but the adults at our table also liked it.

The New York Times

Microbial slimming products would no doubt be a hit with the vain.

The Economist

But they turned out to be a hit with average consumers as well.

The New York Times

Chiang's big idea turned out to be a hit with investors.

MIT Technology Review

The exhibit had opened in early June and seemed to be a hit with visitors.

The New Yorker

Naturally, their remakes turn out to be a hit with the local customers.

The New York Times - Arts

A lifelong bachelor, Binder seemed to be a hit with the ladies.

The New York Times - Arts

Will the series be a hit with straight men, Ms. Beals was asked?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with a specific demographic (e.g. 'local customers', 'younger voters' or 'investors') to make your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid using 'at' or 'on' when you mean to describe audience approval. While something can be 'a hit at the box office' (referring to a location/record), it must be a 'hit with' the people who comprise that audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be a hit with" functions as an idiomatic predicative construction. In Ludwig, it is frequently used with modal verbs (e.g. 'will' or 'should') to express predictions about future success. It serves to link a subject (a product, idea or person) with a target group that is expected to react positively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

22%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "be a hit with" is a robust and effective idiomatic phrase for describing positive reception across various industries. Ludwig AI data shows that it is particularly prevalent in News & Media and Business reporting, where authors need to concisely convey popularity. It is grammatically flexible, working well in past, present and future tenses. While it remains slightly more informal than "<a href="/s/be+well-received+by" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be well-received by", its authoritative usage in top-tier journals makes it a safe and stylish choice for most professional writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be popular with

Uses a more direct adjective-based structure to describe general appeal.

be well-received by

Provides a more formal and passive alternative suitable for corporate reports.

be a success with

Focuses on the outcome of the interaction rather than the 'hit' metaphor.

go down well with

Adds a slightly more idiomatic and British-influenced flavor to the description of reception.

appeal to

Shifts focus to the quality of the object that attracts the audience.

find favor with

Implies obtaining approval or endorsement from a specific group.

resonate with

Suggests a deeper emotional or intellectual connection rather than just surface popularity.

strike a chord with

Metaphorical alternative emphasizing shared feelings or experiences.

gain traction among

Common in business and tech contexts to describe growing popularity over time.

win over

Implies a process of persuading an audience to like something.

FAQs

How do I use "be a hit with" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe anything that people like, for example: "The new park is sure to "be a hit with" families in the neighborhood".

What is a more formal alternative to "be a hit with"?

In formal or academic contexts, you might prefer to use "<a href="/s/be+well-received+by" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be well-received by" or "<a href="/s/appeal+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">appeal to".

Can "be a hit with" be used for people?

Yes, it is often used for people in social or professional settings, such as: "The new CEO was immediately a hit with the staff".

Does "be a hit with" mean the same as "resonate with"?

They are similar, but while being a hit implies popularity, to "<a href="/s/resonate+with" target="_blank" rel="alternative">resonate with" suggests that the audience finds the subject personally meaningful or relatable.