be lavish with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be lavish with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when encouraging someone to be generous or extravagant in giving or using something, such as resources or compliments. Example: "When planning the event, make sure to be lavish with the decorations to create a stunning atmosphere."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

With 11,000 business books published each year, titles have had to be lavish with their promises – How to Be a Star at Work, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive – and systematic with their diagnoses (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Six Thinking Hats, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) to stand out from the crowd.

The Guardian - Books

Another major 20th-century composer who engaged Beecham's sympathies was Sibelius, who recognised him as a fine conductor of his music (although Sibelius tended to be lavish with praise of anybody who conducted his music).

Wikipedia

Be lavish with both!

WikiHow

Be lavish with your praise, and parsimonious with your criticism.

WikiHow

Moist skin tans better - stay hydrated, and be lavish with your favourite body lotion!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Abu Qatada doesn't deserve to be lavished with legal protection.

Independent

Authors used to be lavished with money for writing scintillating love scenes.

The New York Times

Advantage: Saints 49ers O vs. Saints D Jim Harbaugh deserves to be lavished with praise for successfully reconstructing the Niners' offense around the strengths and (many) weaknesses of Alex Smith.

The New York Times

But others say that bustle allows urban horses to be lavished with attention, which a quiet country farm can't provide, said Stephen Malone, the executive director of the Horse and Carriage Association of New York, which represents the drivers of 68 carriages.

The New York Times

Your bodies should be lavished with praise.

Huffington Post

Besides offering praise and rewards as the dogs learned segments of the task, trainers made inexperienced dogs watch their more experienced cohorts lie still and be lavished with attention.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When giving feedback, "be lavish with" praise to reinforce positive behaviors, while offering constructive criticism sparingly.

Common error

Avoid using "be lavish with" in contexts where moderation is key, as it can imply excess and wastefulness. For example, don't "be lavish with" water during a drought.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be lavish with" functions primarily as a directive, urging someone to exhibit generosity or extravagance in their use of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase. Examples show its application in contexts ranging from praising employees to applying lotion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be lavish with" is a phrase used to encourage generous or abundant use of something, as validated by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct, its frequency is rare. Usage contexts include Wiki and News & Media, suggesting an informal to neutral register. When using the phrase, be mindful of overdoing it and ensure moderation is not required. Alternatives such as ""be generous with"" or ""shower with"" can be used to similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be generous with

Focuses on the act of giving freely and abundantly.

be extravagant with

Emphasizes spending or using resources in an unrestrained manner.

be liberal with

Highlights a broad or ample approach in using something.

shower with

Implies overwhelming someone with a large quantity of something.

be abundant with

Stresses the plentiful availability of something.

be profuse with

Suggests a lavish and unrestrained display or offering.

be overflowing with

Indicates an excess or surplus of something.

heap with

Implies piling something high with a particular item.

be replete with

Focuses on being fully or abundantly filled.

be unstinting with

Emphasizes giving or providing without reservation or limit.

FAQs

What does it mean to "be lavish with" something?

To "be lavish with" something means to use or give it generously and abundantly, often implying a degree of extravagance.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "be lavish with"?

It's suitable when encouraging generosity or emphasizing abundance, such as "be lavish with" praise or resources in a celebration.

Are there situations where I shouldn't "be lavish with" something?

Yes, avoid using it when moderation is necessary, such as with limited resources or in situations requiring restraint. Consider alternatives like "be sparing with" in those cases.

What can I say instead of "be lavish with"?

You can use alternatives like "be generous with", "be liberal with", or "shower with", depending on the context.