cheer yourself up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'cheer yourself up' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used when trying to encourage someone to feel better about something or when someone is feeling sad or down. For example, "I know you are feeling down about not doing well on the test, but try to cheer yourself up. You will do better next time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

WANT to cheer yourself up?

The Economist

Comfort TV: what do you watch to cheer yourself up?

The Guardian

If Fifa leaves you depressed, cheer yourself up with the splendid Honigsteins 2011.

The Guardian - Sport

TV and radio blog Comfort TV: what do you watch to cheer yourself up?

The Guardian

Which suggests young men are becoming as susceptible to the idea that you can cheer yourself up by shopping".

The Guardian

7 If you have to read, to cheer yourself up read biographies of writers who went insane.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

"By cheering yourself up, you'll make yourself feel better, and you'll also equip yourself to deal more effectively with tough situations".

BBC

This Wednesday: 19 tips for cheering yourself up -- from two hundred years ago.

Huffington Post

To escape your dirty, miserable life as a Londoner in the 1800s you might have cheered yourself up by visiting the Hunterian Museum to gawp at the curiosities displayed there.

Vice

Get a new haircut or new clothes as part of cheering yourself up.

WikiHow

Kjerulf says if you only suffer the occasional bout of mild Monday Blues, then you can do some things to successfully cheer yourself and others up on an otherwise dreary Monday.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encouraging someone, follow "cheer yourself up" with actionable advice to make it more effective. For example, "Cheer yourself up by going for a walk or listening to music."

Common error

Avoid using "cheer up yourself"; the reflexive pronoun is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect. Use "cheer yourself up" or simply "cheer up."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cheer yourself up" functions as an intransitive verb phrase with a reflexive pronoun. It describes the action of improving one's own mood or emotional state. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

30%

Lifestyle

15%

Less common in

Books

5%

Opinion

3%

Tech

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cheer yourself up" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for encouraging someone to improve their own mood. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, showing it's widely employed across diverse media, particularly in news, lifestyle, and how-to contexts. While generally informal, it fits well in various situations, though more formal alternatives exist. When using this phrase, ensure it's followed by actionable advice and avoid the incorrect "cheer up yourself". Alternatives include "lift your spirits" or "brighten your day". Overall, it is a simple expression for promoting self-care.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Lift your spirits

Focuses on elevating one's emotional state.

Brighten your day

Emphasizes making the current day more positive.

Perk yourself up

Suggests a quick and energetic way to improve mood.

Improve your mood

Directly addresses the act of making one's mood better.

Make yourself happy

Highlights the act of creating happiness for oneself.

Elevate your mood

Similar to "lift your spirits", emphasizing a higher emotional state.

Put a smile on your face

Focuses on the physical manifestation of happiness.

Turn that frown upside down

A more idiomatic way of suggesting a change from sadness to happiness.

Find some joy

Implies actively seeking out happiness.

Chase away the blues

Idiomatic way of saying 'get rid of sadness'.

FAQs

How can I use "cheer yourself up" in a sentence?

You can use "cheer yourself up" to encourage someone to improve their mood. For example, "If you're feeling down, try to "cheer yourself up" by doing something you enjoy."

What's a more formal way to say "cheer yourself up"?

While "cheer yourself up" is generally acceptable, you could use phrases like "improve your mood" or "elevate your spirits" in more formal contexts.

Is "cheer up yourself" grammatically correct?

No, "cheer up yourself" is not grammatically correct. The correct reflexive form is ""cheer yourself up"". The reflexive pronoun "yourself" is needed to indicate that the action is directed back to the subject.

What's the difference between "cheer someone up" and "cheer yourself up"?

"Cheer someone up" means to make another person feel happier, while ""cheer yourself up"" means to make yourself feel happier. The reflexive pronoun is the key difference.