living it up

USAGE SUMMARY

"living it up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as a phrasal verb to describe someone having a great time or enjoying themselves in an extravagant way. Example: "After winning the lottery, she decided to quit her job and start living it up by traveling the world and staying at luxury resorts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then you'd see me living it up!

The New Yorker

"They're living it up in the blossoms".

The New York Times

They're living it up in Europe.

The Guardian - Film

I was not living it up big time".

The New York Times

I was living it up, eating what I liked.

The Guardian - Film

He's "living it up" on his big increases?

The New York Times

"I'm not living it up here," she says ruefully.

The Guardian

"They've been living it up since at an exclusive resort in a beachfront villa.

Independent

Or a complacent island of fat sunburnt accountants living it up at our expense?

Independent

Those Bulgarians are living it up in Kensington mansions at HM taxpayers' expense!

Independent

"Oh, we had a great time living it up in that incredible house," Ms. Nagy said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "living it up" to describe someone enjoying a temporary period of extravagance or fun, especially when it contrasts with their usual lifestyle.

Common error

Avoid using "living it up" to describe a consistently luxurious lifestyle. Instead, use it to highlight a specific period of enjoyment or indulgence. For example, "She's not just rich; she's vacationing in Monaco and really living it up."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "living it up" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a present participle acting as part of a continuous verb tense. It's typically used to describe an ongoing action of enjoying oneself extravagantly, as illustrated in many of Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "living it up" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe someone enjoying a period of luxury or extravagance. Ludwig's AI confirms that the phrase is suitable for use in written English and can appear in contexts ranging from news articles to casual conversation. The register is typically informal to neutral, making it less suitable for formal academic or scientific writing. While there are other ways to convey similar meanings, the frequency and widespread use of "living it up" make it a valuable and recognizable expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

living the high life

Implies luxury and extravagance, often associated with wealth.

living a life of pleasure

Emphasizes a lifestyle centered around seeking enjoyment and comfort.

enjoying life to the fullest

Emphasizes a comprehensive enjoyment of various aspects of life, not necessarily extravagant.

making the most of life

Focuses on utilizing opportunities and experiences to their fullest potential.

indulging oneself

Focuses on treating oneself to luxuries or pleasures.

having a blast

Focuses on a short period of intense enjoyment.

reveling in

Highlights the act of taking great pleasure or delight in something.

having a whale of a time

Indicates a very enjoyable and memorable experience.

painting the town red

Suggests a night of wild and lively celebration, usually involving going out.

whooping it up

Indicates boisterous and unrestrained merrymaking.

FAQs

How can I use "living it up" in a sentence?

You can use "living it up" to describe someone enjoying a luxurious or exciting experience, such as "After winning the lottery, they were "living it up" in a tropical paradise".

What's a more formal way to say "living it up"?

While "living it up" is generally informal, you could use phrases like "enjoying a period of indulgence" or "experiencing the high life" in more formal contexts. Keep in mind that these "alternatives" might slightly change the nuance of the original phrase.

Is it correct to say "live it up" instead of "living it up"?

"Live it up" is the base form of the verb, used in the imperative mood (e.g., "Go on vacation and live it up!"). "Living it up" is the present participle, used in continuous tenses (e.g., "They are "living it up" right now").

What's the difference between "living it up" and "making ends meet"?

"Living it up" implies enjoying luxuries and having a great time, while "making ends meet" suggests struggling to cover basic expenses. They represent opposite ends of the economic spectrum, being almost antonyms.