be your guest

USAGE SUMMARY

"be my guest" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a polite way of telling someone that they can have something or do something. For example: "Would you like to borrow my sunglasses for the day? Be my guest!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But it happens: "I'm going to be your guest here indefinitely," he says to a family.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I am deeply moved to be your guest here in the great Umayyad Mosque, so rich in religious history.

Huffington Post

In an effort to continue the discussion and engage our constituents in this important debate, we ask you to join us in inviting a person who has been impacted by gun violence to be your guest at the President's State of the Union address on February 12th," the letter reads.

Huffington Post

Just think -- they may be your guest next time.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The card signifies that they will be your guests, but you don't need to cook.

The Guardian - Money

Be your guests' tour guide.

WikiHow

It's nice to have more friends to be your guests.

WikiHow

ST: Edgar Wright, a long-time friend of yours, was your guest.

Forbes

"But it is your guest for a lifetime".

The New York Times - Books

Gordon Brown is your guest on an forthcoming episode.

The Guardian

"So you're a guest and this is your guest?" the girl behind the desk asked.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be your guest" to politely grant someone permission to do something, especially when they have asked for it or shown interest. It can also convey a sense of generosity or welcome.

Common error

While "be your guest" is a useful phrase, avoid using it excessively in formal or professional settings where a more direct or explicit form of permission might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be your guest" primarily functions as an idiomatic expression used to grant permission. Ludwig AI highlights its use in offering something or allowing someone to proceed with a request. It softens the act of granting permission, making it more welcoming.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be your guest" is a polite and relatively informal phrase used to grant permission. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's not very frequent and primarily appears in news media and Wiki sources. The phrase functions as an idiomatic expression to convey consent in a welcoming manner. For more formal settings, alternatives like "You are welcome to" may be more appropriate. Remember that while "be my guest" can add a touch of generosity, overusing it might sound unnatural. Consider varying your phrasing to keep your language engaging and context-appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel free

A more general way of granting permission, less emphatic than "be your guest".

go ahead

Similar to "be your guest", but more direct and less polite.

help yourself

Specifically used when offering something tangible, like food or drink.

you're welcome to

A more formal and polite way of granting permission.

please do

A polite and encouraging way to grant permission.

by all means

A more emphatic and formal way of granting permission.

don't hesitate

Encourages someone to do something without worry.

you have my permission

A formal and authoritative way of granting permission.

it's all yours

Used when offering something for someone to take or use.

consider it done

Implies agreement and readiness to fulfill a request, differing from a pure grant of permission.

FAQs

How can I use "be your guest" in a sentence?

You can use "be your guest" when someone asks for permission or indicates a desire to do something. For example, if someone asks, "Can I borrow this book?", you can respond with "Be my guest!"

What does "be my guest" mean?

"Be my guest" is a polite way of giving someone permission to do something or use something. It implies that you are happy for them to do so and that you are offering it freely.

Which is more formal, "be my guest" or "feel free"?

Feel free is generally considered slightly more formal than "be my guest". Both are relatively informal, but "be my guest" can sometimes sound a bit old-fashioned depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "be my guest" in a formal setting?

In a formal setting, you could use phrases like "You are welcome to", "You have my permission to", or "Please feel free to". These alternatives convey politeness and permission in a more professional manner.