making merry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making merry" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of enjoying oneself, celebrating, or having fun, often in a festive context. Example: "During the holiday season, families gather together, making merry and sharing joyful moments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

We also spend a lot of time eating, drinking, making merry — and cooking.

The New York Times - Food

Adventures in Eating, Drinking, and Making Merry By Julia Reed St. Martin's, $25.99.

The New York Times - Books

Elsewhere, this week mostly saw a barrage of local Chinese hits making merry pre-Star Wars.

The Guardian - Film

The City of London is making merry on the commissions being paid on this activity.

The Guardian - Money

The background is, again unusually for him, strongly engaged and engaging: people making merry in blue-green boskiness.

The New Yorker

Nonetheless, his Republican opponents and a cadre of conservative bloggers are making merry with his past associations.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Terrorists will make merry doing crypto anyway.

The New York Times

Chaos reigns and confusion makes merry.

The Guardian - Film

The show also frequently makes merry with "Nutcracker" allusions.

The New York Times

At night we cooked and made merry beneath the stars.

The Guardian - Travel

Behind them, people make merry in blue-green boskiness.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making merry" when you want to evoke a sense of traditional celebration or lighthearted enjoyment. It's suitable for describing festive atmospheres and joyful occasions.

Common error

Avoid using "making merry" in contexts that require a more serious or somber tone. The phrase carries a connotation of lightheartedness that may be inappropriate for formal or sensitive situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making merry" primarily functions as a verb phrase, acting as the present participle of the idiomatic expression "make merry". As supported by Ludwig, it describes an ongoing action of enjoying oneself, celebrating, or being festive. It often complements other verbs to depict a scene of joviality and celebration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "making merry" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that describes the act of enjoying oneself in a cheerful and festive manner. As highlighted by Ludwig, the phrase is most commonly found in News & Media sources, with a neutral register suitable for a wide range of writing contexts. While synonyms like "celebrating" or "enjoying oneself" can be used, "making merry" carries a unique connotation of lightheartedness that makes it particularly apt for festive occasions. Be mindful of maintaining a consistent tone when deploying it. Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rejoicing

Emphasizes a feeling of great happiness or joy; it is a more concise alternative.

celebrating

Focuses on the act of recognizing a special occasion with enjoyment.

enjoying oneself

A general term for having a pleasant experience. It's less specific than "making merry".

having fun

A common and informal way to describe enjoying an activity.

carousing

Implies lively and noisy festivities, often involving alcohol.

revelling

Suggests taking great pleasure or delight in something, often in a boisterous manner.

frolicking

Describes playful and joyful behavior, often in a carefree way.

whooping it up

An informal idiom for celebrating wildly or enthusiastically.

living it up

Indicates enjoying a luxurious or extravagant lifestyle.

painting the town red

An idiom that means going out and enjoying oneself in a lively way.

FAQs

What does "making merry" mean?

"Making merry" means enjoying oneself in a lively, festive, or cheerful way. It often implies celebrating and having a good time.

How can I use "making merry" in a sentence?

You can use "making merry" to describe people celebrating or enjoying themselves. For example, "The villagers were "making merry" at the annual harvest festival".

What can I say instead of "making merry"?

You can use alternatives like "celebrating", "enjoying oneself", or "having fun" depending on the context.

Is "making merry" formal or informal?

"Making merry" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. While not overly formal, it's acceptable in a variety of contexts, though alternatives might be preferred in very formal settings.