somebody up for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somebody up for" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to ask if someone is willing or interested in participating in an activity or event. Example: "Is anybody up for a movie tonight?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(M HV1) " You cannot emotionally and mentally prop somebody up for years and years...sounds awful, doesn't it?" (B HV4) Some women suggested that neither their GP nor their health visitor could do very much, which resonates with health visitors' views on the GP role: " There is nothing else available.

BMC Family Practice

We just told the story like that to him – it's like any number of fairytales, where someone locks somebody up for the purposes of ownership.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Everyone I have the chemo conversation with wants to know how it will affect their appearance," says Dr. Lawrence D. Piro of the Angeles Clinic and Research Institute in West L.A. "It's a conversation worth having, and you can't trivialize or judge someone for it because what lifts somebody up is different for everyone".

Los Angeles Times

There the police can pick somebody up and hold him for 24 hours without letting himcall a lawyer or even notify his family.

The New Yorker

"Probably, if anything, it made them angrier," Ralph said, making the Scarlet Knights want to "beat somebody up and make somebody pay for it".

The New York Times - Sports

On May 6, we're hosting "Somebody Stood Up For Me," an interactive summit in Los Angeles which will be one of the first events to kick-off this national campaign to raise awareness of childhood bullying, trauma, and violence and advance community solutions to reverse their consequences.

Huffington Post

History will show that Fidel was somebody who stood up for something very, very different in the Caribbean and many independent people would say how good healthcare and education are in Cuba compared with many other places in the world".

The Guardian

If you want to give somebody a thumbs up for their edits, you can do so during patrolling, guarding quality, or even just browsing the history of an article, wherein a thumbs up icon is present in blue color.

WikiHow

Civil detention is imposed not as punishment, but simply to make sure somebody shows up for a hearing.

The New York Times

However if somebody shows up for just a glass of wine, the restaurant was being aggressive, and there would be nothing wrong with questioning it.

The New York Times

"It's about time that somebody stuck up for the people of this country and for the people of other countries," Trump told reporters.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somebody up for" when casually suggesting an activity or gauging interest within a group. For example, "Is somebody up for grabbing coffee after the meeting?"

Common error

While acceptable, "somebody up for" is generally informal. Refrain from using it in highly professional or academic writing; opt for phrases like "interested in participating" or "available to assist" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somebody up for" functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase used to inquire about someone's willingness or interest in participating in a proposed activity. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "somebody up for" is a common and grammatically correct way to inquire about someone's interest or willingness to participate in an activity. According to Ludwig, it is usable in written English and is generally considered informal. The phrase is found across various contexts, especially in news and media. While versatile, it's best suited for casual settings, with more formal alternatives available for professional or academic use. This detailed analysis provides a thorough understanding of its usage, alternatives, and potential pitfalls.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Anyone interested in

Replaces "somebody" with "anyone" and uses "interested in" to convey willingness.

Is anyone willing to

Similar to "anyone interested in" but uses "willing" to emphasize readiness.

Who wants to

A direct question inquiring about someone's desire to participate.

Available for

Specifies that someone is free and ready to do something.

Keen on

A more informal way of asking if someone is enthusiastic about something.

Open to

Indicates a general receptiveness or willingness to consider something.

Up for grabs

Implies that something is available for anyone who wants it.

Looking for participants

A more formal way to announce the availability of something

Seeking volunteers

Specifically asking for people to offer their time or services.

In search of someone

Emphasizes the act of actively looking for a person.

FAQs

What does "somebody up for" mean?

It is a casual way of asking if someone is willing or interested in participating in a specific activity or event. It is a common expression used to gauge interest.

How can I use "somebody up for" in a sentence?

You can use it to propose an activity to a group, like: "Is "anybody up for" going to the movies tonight?" or "Is "anyone interested in" grabbing a bite to eat after work?"

Are there more formal alternatives to "somebody up for"?

Yes, in professional or academic settings, consider using phrases like "who is interested in", "seeking participants", or "looking for volunteers" instead of the more informal "somebody up for".

What's the difference between "somebody up for" and ""anyone interested in""?

"Somebody up for" is generally more casual. "Anyone interested in" is a slightly more formal way of asking the same thing but both are largely interchangeable depending on the setting.