taking up room

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "taking up room" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occupies physical space or metaphorically refers to something that is unnecessary or excessive. Example: "The old furniture is just taking up room in the garage that could be used for storage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Turfing, an acronym for Taking Up Room on the Floor, was created in 2002 by Jeriel Bey in Oakland, California.

Wikipedia

"It's taking up room".

The New York Times

We're used to taking up room," she said, "and we do".

The New York Times - Style

In rehearsal, we had to work on these things – on how to show status in our physicality, and how to be unapologetic about taking up room.

The Guardian

Oliver is a big fan of a layer of leftover mashed potato, which he describes as "insanely good"; mash is never a bad thing, I'll grant you, but here it blends into the soft, fluffy bread, taking up room that, by rights, should be devoted to cheese.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

With cloud services like Apple, Box, Dropbox, Google and Microsoft offering near-unlimited storage at near-free prices, there'll be little need for storage devices taking up room in your pocket.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The fish tanks take up room, and scale matters in the great genomics rally under way.

The New York Times - Science

It seemed so brazen to have made an object that took up room in the world.

The New Yorker

He took up room in her bed, but was gone when she woke in the morning.

The New Yorker

The principle is that you grow crops hydroponically in vertical structures, rather than take up room on the ground.

Independent

A lot of things that used to take up room, like records and books, you don't need".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing digital storage, use "taking up room" to emphasize the consumption of memory or cloud space. For instance, "Large video files are taking up room on my phone".

Common error

Avoid using "taking up room" when a more precise term exists for intangible concepts. Saying "worry is taking up room in my mind" can be improved with "worry is consuming my thoughts" to better convey the emotional impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking up room" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of occupying physical or metaphorical space. Ludwig shows it used both literally (e.g., "fish tanks take up room") and figuratively (e.g., "characters have been in my head taking up room").

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "taking up room" is a versatile expression used to describe the occupation of physical or metaphorical space. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used in contexts ranging from News & Media to Wiki articles. While generally neutral in tone, careful attention should be paid to the context to ensure the phrase accurately conveys the intended meaning. Consider using alternatives like "occupying space" or "consuming space" for a more formal or precise tone. Avoid overusing it in metaphorical contexts where a more vivid or specific term might be more impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occupying space

Focuses on the action of occupying a certain amount of space, similar to "taking up room" but with a slightly more formal tone.

using space

Highlights the utilization of space, implying a purpose or function, which might be less direct than "taking up room".

filling space

Emphasizes the act of completely occupying an area, which can imply that no space is left.

encroaching upon space

Implies an unwanted or gradual occupation of space, adding a negative connotation not necessarily present in "taking up room".

monopolizing space

Suggests exclusive control or usage of an area, which is stronger than simply "taking up room".

hogging space

Informal and implies selfishly occupying more space than needed or deserved.

encumbering space

Implies that the space is being burdened or obstructed by something that shouldn't be there.

taking precedence

Shifts from physical space to metaphorical priority or importance, implying that something else is being displaced.

absorbing space

Suggests that something is gradually consuming space, which might not be as direct as "taking up room".

crowding the area

Implies an undesirable density of objects or people in a limited space, adding a sense of congestion not always present in "taking up room".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "taking up room" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "occupying space", "utilizing space", or "consuming space", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is "taking up emotional room"?

Yes, "taking up room" can be used metaphorically to describe something that is consuming emotional energy or attention, as in, "That issue is "taking up too much emotional room"."

What's a more casual way to say "taking up room"?

Informally, you might say something is "hogging space" or "cluttering up the place", depending on the situation.

When should I avoid using the phrase "taking up room"?

Avoid using "taking up room" when a more precise or descriptive phrase would better convey the intended meaning. For example, instead of "It's taking up room in the schedule", you could say "It's "occupying time" that could be used for other projects."